Our feet are one of the most common locations for a person to develop a cut, sore or open wound. Sometimes these injuries are caused by ill fitting socks and shoes that cause blisters and sores, while other times we can step on an object or strike our foot on something and break the skin. If you’re dealing with a new cut or sore on your foot, it’s important that you know how to properly care for it so that it heals quickly and you reduce your risk of infection. In today’s blog, we share some tips for cleaning and bandaging wounds on your feet.
How To Clean And Dress Foot Wounds
As always, just remember that these are general words of advice, and your best treatment options would come from a doctor who can view your foot in person. With that in mind, here are some general cleaning and dressing tips for minor to moderate foot wounds.
1. Wash Your Hands – Before you tend to the injury, make sure your hands are clean. Wash them with soap and warm water, or put on some latex gloves before you address the wound.
2. Clean With Washcloth – Take a clean washcloth, get it wet with a little bit of water and gently dab the area to help clean it and remove any debris. Once the area is clean, use a dry part of the washcloth to gently dry the area.
3. Examine The Area – Before you put on a dressing, examine the area now that it is clean. Look for any impediments that remain in the foot, and remove them if they are small and easily removed. If you’re applying a new dressing to an old injury, you should be looking for redness, drainage or signs of an infection. If you suspect an infection, contact a foot specialist.
4. Apply Antiseptic – For extra infection protection, consider applying an antiseptic cream to the area. Dab the area dry once applied.
5. Apply Bandage – Once the area is clean and passes your eye test, you can wrap it in a bandage. A cloth bandage is the most common for minor injuries, but there are other types of bandages available if you suffer a burn or are dealing with a foot ulcer. Place a small cotton ball or gauze pad against the injury site before gentle wrapping it with a bandage.
If there are objects still embedded in your foot that cannot be easily removed, like a nail or other large object, leave them in the foot and head to an urgent or emergency care facility. Otherwise, if you’ve completed the five steps above, you can repeat these steps every day or two until the wound heals.