Is it better to cover wounds with bandages or expose the wounds to air for the best healing?

Wound healing: In the wound care world, we do not like air exposure. One of the foundations is moist healing of a wound using the best product that you can. 'best' depends on where the wound is located and what type of drainage in coming from the wound. Your local wound center should be able to assist you with the correct product.

Cover open wounds: Exposing an open wound to air also exposes it to harmful bacteria and other microbes. I recommend cleaning all wounds initially with a gentle scrub of soap and water then maintaining with an over-the-counter cloth based adhesive bandage. Routine washing is not necessary for minor wounds. Alcohol/iodine will kill bacteria but also impair healing. Plastic bandages tend to damage surrounding skin.

Moist wounds heal: Dry wound is dead wound. Wound heals better with moisture - just today i read a research that calcium alginate and foam prevented wound coming together whereas tegaderm improved scar formation - so it is also important what dressing we use on wounds -12/27/2011.

Better to cover: Wounds should heal if they are kept clean, moist, warm, and have a good vascular supply. By exposing the wound to air, there is the risk that the wound become dessicated, contaminated, and cooled. By covering the wound, you can easily avoid these deleterious elements.

Moist healing best: Dry wound is a dead wound - there is a dressing called advanced healing with hydrocolloid once applied can be left in place for a week cost $5 each available in pharmacies.

Don't dry wounds out: Letting wounds get air is very old treatment. The best moisture level for a wound is the same as the moisture just under the skin. As long as the good skin around the wound doesn't become white or macerated like dish pan hands it isn't too wet.