Why do we use Band-Aids on our Injuries?

By Jane Fore, MD

Minor injuries happen to all of us every day. Why should we use Band-Aids and what do they do? I am a fan of bandages for many reasons. Selecting the correct bandage that will work for your situation is also a challenge. Band-Aids can improve efficiency of healing and that leads to the best outcome. This is true even if it is a small injury. The faster we heal the less are the chances of complications such as an infection.

Bandages do many things that can enhance healing. It is also important to select the correct bandage.

They may have medications and agents that enhance healing like antibiotics, silver or copper ions that reduce infection because they kill or slow down the growth of bacteria on the open area of skin.

Band-Aids can help pull together the injured tissues and help them mend more rapidly. Tissue that is constantly moving does not have a chance to knit back together. Holding the tissues together to close the gap of the injury also improves the appearance of the area that is injured after it is healed.

Band-Aids prevent the contamination of the open wound. They keep chemicals that can damage and slow our healing tissues. They can keep out bacteria, fungus and viruses.

Band-Aids can prevent the wound from drying out. The band aid can promote wound healing because tissue that is trying to heal will die if it dries out. This is called moist wound healing. Not WET but moist. Not too wet or too dry. If there is a lot of drainage, the bandage needs to be more absorbent and will need to be changed more often.

Why not just allow something to scab over? That scab is a natural bandage but is slower to heal, has a greater chance of an infection and damage to more surrounding tissue and IS NOT a sign that the injury is healed. People think a scab means it is healed. Things are trying to heal underneath the scab.

Band-Aids that close over the wound and protect it are the best. Good examples are hydrocolloid bandages and film dressings that have a non-stick patch in the center. They are available at all bandage counters. Bandages with antibiotics or silver ions are also available. Sometimes putting tape over the bandage will assist maintaining the bandage in place when over areas like fingers or other moving parts. Coban or vet wrap is also something that can go over the bandage to help retain the dressing.

Take some time to look at the updated bandages at your drug store. Have them ready for use when the inevitable injury happens to you.