However, if visible pieces remain, use a pair of tweezers to lift out the foreign objects carefully. You can likely wash away most dirt, rocks, glass, or other grime with water.
It’s critical to remove debris before the wound begins to heal. Take care not to scrub the wound too hard to prevent further damage or bleeding. Use lukewarm water and antibacterial soap. Wash the InjuryĬarefully wash the road rash injury to help disinfect the wound. Simply follow six easy steps to clean, protect, and heal your wound.īefore you start treatment for your or a loved one’s road rash, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with warm soap and water to help prevent infection.
HOW LONG DOES ROAD RASH TAKE TO HEAL HOW TO
While abrasion wounds look bad and feel worse, learning how to heal road rash is relatively straightforward. If you notice new or worsening swelling, heat, or a foul smell, or if your road rash is larger than the size of your palm, contact your doctor or go to urgent care for treatment. You may also notice swelling or warmth on or around the wound.
The injury will likely feel painful and have a bright red appearance. You can usually self-diagnose a road rash. If you notice discoloration, thick and uneven scarring, or if your road rash hasn’t healed after two weeks, seek medical attention.
HOW LONG DOES ROAD RASH TAKE TO HEAL SKIN
In extreme road rash cases, however, pieces of debris such as rocks, glass, metal, or dirt can become permanently lodged below the skin and create a bruised appearance over the wounded area, sometimes called a traumatic tattoo. Most people can diagnose and treat the injury at home and won’t need medical attention. Road rash injuries often occur while playing sports or engaging in physical activities, such as:Ĭommon road rash injuries cause surface-level friction burns. People are usually more active during the warmer months and wear less clothing, resulting in minimal skin protection. ROAD RASH CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND DIAGNOSIS Causes of Road RashĪ road rash injury can have many causes, but the abrasion wound occurs most frequently during spring and summer. However, the most common locations include your knees, hands, elbows, forearms, or other bony areas.