Do you regularly ride a motorcycle?
There’s nothing more freeing than feeling the breeze and maneuvering down winding roads with your friends!
Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents can result in injury that take weeks to months to heal. If you’re suffering from road rash, you may be wondering how you can help heal your wounds.
Here are six things you should know about road rash treatment so you can try to ease your pain.
- Seek Medical Treatment
Having a professional take a look at your road rash shortly after it occurs will help prevent infection, scarring, and further complications. Even if the road rash isn’t severe, a medical professional can help remove all road debris that may have entered your wounds.
However, if you’re certain your injury is only a first-degree road rash, you may be able to treat it at home.
- Keep It Clean
If you’re curious about how to treat road rash at home, the first step is to wash your hands. This is the best way to prevent bacteria from entering your wounds, leading to an infected road rash.
Next, gently clean the injury under lukewarm water and take special care to remove any dirt or debris.
- Apply Antibiotic Ointment
Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly. This can help heal your wounds by keeping the area hydrated and protected against infection.
This will also help prevent a road rash scar from forming as it keeps your scabs supple.
- Cover With a Bandage
Cover the affected area with loose, nonstick gauze to keep it protected, yet free from aggravation. The gauze can keep debris from entering your wounds while trapping in moisture that keeps the area hydrated and aids in the healing process.
Change the gauze once or twice daily. If it’s dirty or wet, change it more frequently.
You can start to remove the gauze once your wounds have sealed, but it’s best to keep it covered if you leave the house. You can remove the gauze completely once the wound has healed to the point of scabbing over.
- Monitor Your Injury
Check your road rash injury every day to make sure it’s not getting infected. Infection can lead to further complications, so it’s best to look for the signs to prevent any additional injury.
If you notice foul-smelling drainage, swelling, or flu-like symptoms, you should seek professional treatment immediately.
- Give Yourself Peace of Mind
If you’re recovering from severe road rash, medical bills and other expenses may begin to pile up. This may make you worry about your finances.
While you’re healing from your road rash injury, learn more about motorcycle accident settlement to make sure you’re being fairly compensated.
Road Rash Treatment for a Speedy Recovery
Now that you know these road rash treatment tips, you can get back to traveling on your motorcycle with a little more confidence! Hopefully, you’ll never need them again, but it’s better to be safe than have untreated road rash!
Be sure to check back regularly for more wellness tips!