Wound Care Specialist

What is a wound?

Wounds are injuries that break the skin, such as cuts, scratches, scrapes, and punctures. Minor wounds are not usually serious, but it is important to clean them after the incident and keep them clean during healing to prevent infection. More severe wounds typically happen because of an accident or injury and require stitches, sutures, or surgery to repair.

Wound symptoms include pain, bleeding, and swelling. The severity of the symptoms depends on the cause of injury and the location. For example, wounds to the scalp or face bleed more than areas of the body with fewer blood vessels.

What is wound care?

Treatment for wounds is important to prevent serious health complications. Left untreated, wounds can turn into serious infections like sepsis or cellulitis. The most important time for wound care is in the first couple of weeks after getting a wound. You should receive treatment for deep wounds at an urgent care center or emergency room facility.

If your wound doesn’t heal properly after several days, seek professional wound care at Brooklyn Pain Doctors.

What health issues affect wound care?

Several health conditions may affect the healing of a wound, including:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Gastrointestinal diseases
• Heart conditions
• Pulmonary disease
• Thyroid conditions

Chronic health issues decrease your body’s natural ability to heal. Be sure to disclose all health conditions when you visit a doctor for wound care, so they may customize an appropriate treatment plan to your needs.

When do I need a doctor for wound care?

You can treat the majority of wounds at home with basic first aid, like washing your hands, cleaning the wound, and covering it to prevent infection. But see a doctor for wound care if any of the following apply to you:

• The wound is a result of trauma, force, or other injuries are present
• The wound is a result of an animal bite
• The wound is on your face
• Bleeding doesn’t stop with pressure or elevation
• You have signs of infection like swelling, pus, redness, or pain
• The wound requires stitches
• The wound is dirty even after cleaning
• You don’t have a tetanus immunization, or your immunization is out-of-date

The experienced team at Brooklyn Pain Doctors specializes in wound care. Call the practice, or schedule an appointment online if your wound requires medical treatment.