What are abrasions?
In simple words – an abrasion refers – a scrape on a person’s skin. This is a break in an individual’s skin that happens when the individual’s skin rubs off. It may bleed slightly and hurt. An abrasion typically happens when something hits (or drags) against skin (friction). Abrasions are usually accidental injuries. They only impact the outermost layers of an individual’s skin.
An abrasion is similar to utilising a piece of sandpaper to remove paint from an entity or object. The rough surface of the sandpaper rubbing against the object removes layers of paint just as an abrasion takes off some of an individual’s skin.
Types
Linear
A linear abrasion is also referred to as a scratch. It damages an individual’s skin in a line-like pattern. It’s the result of a piercing sharp, pointed entity /object like a thorn making contact with a person’s skin.
Grazed
A grazed abrasion (or brushed abrasion) refers to skin damage caused by a person’s skin making contact with or dragging across a rough surface. This type of abrasion can cover a large portion or area of an individual’s skin. An example would be a skinned knee.
Patterned
A patterned abrasion refers to skin damage caused by an object forcefully making direct contact with an individual’s skin and rubbing against it. The wound on an individual’s skin matches the size and shape of the entity or object that their skin touched. For instance – the nail markings caused by a pet animal – cat scratch. The feline’s claws reflect the size as well as shape of wounds they make on an individual’s skin.
What are the symptoms of an abrasion?
Manifestations of an abrasion comprise:
- Mild pain (usually described as stinging or burning).
- Light bleeding.
- Discoloration of skin
- Oozing of pink to clear – fluid from the wound.
Causes
Friction causes abrasions.
Term Friction refers to the movement of a hard, uneven or rough surface, entity/object or material against skin.
Predominant causes of abrasions comprises:
- Falling down onto a rock solid surface (or gravel).
- Sliding into home plate (or baseball).
- Road rash (falling off of a vehicle in motion, for instance, bicycle or a motorcycle onto the pavement).
- Carpet burn (rubbing skin on a rough rug or carpeted surface).
How is an abrasion diagnosed?
The majority of abrasions don’t require a diagnosis from a healthcare provider/medical professional since they’re minor injuries that one can treat at home. In the event/scenario of an accident or severe injury, an individual may have a large abrasion which requires medical treatment. A healthcare provider will diagnose an abrasion by visually examining/assessing a person’s wound. They’ll specifically note the following during the examination:
- Type of abrasion
- Size as well as shape
- Location/site on a person’s body.
- Depth of the wound within the individual’s skin.
- If there’s debris or other material present in individual’s wound
How is an abrasion treated?
Treatment for an abrasion is appropriate/proper wound care.
Following steps:
- Firstly, wash the wound gently with soap as well as water.
- Utilising tweezers to take out any visible debris – for instance – pebbles. Use caution prior to taking out any debris.
- If a wound comprises too much debris such as a lot of large pieces of gravel (or glass), visit the hospital/medical center and the person should not try to remove the debris on their own.
- Patting the wound dry post washing it. Utilise a clean washcloth to do this.
- By applying a topical antibiotic ointment to the abrasion to prevent infection.
- Covering wounds with either a bandage or wound dressing. Small abrasions, for instance, linear abrasion less than 2 inches, may not require a bandage due to the dimensions/size.
- Cleansing and covering the wound day to day until it heals. Utilize a new bandage each time.
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