FACT SHEET FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES

Wound Care: Home Instructions

What is a chronic wound?
A wound is any break in the skin or deep tissue. Normally
the skin heals quickly on its own. Wounds that don’t heal
easily are called chronic wounds. They require special
care to heal. Chronic wounds can result from:
•• Surgical wounds that reopen
•• Skin that breaks down when there’s too much
pressure over a bony area (pressure ulcers)
•• Injury to the feet or legs from poor circulation
(arterial or venous ulcers)
•• Loss of circulation and feeling due to diabetes
(diabetic ulcers)
A clean dressing will keep your wound warm
Why isn’t my wound healing faster? and moist and protect it from germs.

Sometimes bacteria (germs) are the problem. When you

have an open wound, it’s easy for common bacteria from How can I help my wound heal?
your skin to get inside. Bacteria in your wound is called
All wounds heal in the same way. First, new red tissue
contamination. Not all contamination is bad, though.
builds up in the bottom. Then new skin grows in from
•• If bacteria are in your wound, but are not reproducing the edges and covers the red tissue. Your wound will
and not causing a problem, this is called colonization. heal fastest if you create the best conditions for new
•• Infection means the bacteria are reproducing, so there tissue to grow. This means keeping your wound clean,
are a lot more of them. They are invading the soft tissue warm, and moist. Here’s what you should do:

and preventing healing. •• Wash your hands. The most important thing you and
your caregivers can do to prevent infection is wash your
Other factors that slow wound healing include:
hands. You can use soap and water, or an alcohol-based
•• Poor nutrition hand rub. Wash before and after touching your wound.
•• Certain diseases, such as diabetes or diseases
•• Keep a clean dressing on your wound.
of the liver, kidney, or lungs
Dressings keep out germs and protect the wound from
•• Certain treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation injury. They also help absorb fluid that drains from the
•• Smoking wound and could damage the skin around it.
•• Obesity •• Be careful. Protect the wound from trauma or injury.
Don’t let anything touch it or bump it.
•• Eat right. Eating the right foods gives your body the
building blocks it needs to heal. A list of foods for
good wound healing is found on page 4.
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Changing your dressing
Keeping a clean dressing on your wound will help it heal.
Your healthcare providers can show you how to change your
dressing, and let you know how long to keep each dressing
on. They will recommend specific products to use.

Prepare
•• Clean your work area
•• Gather your supplies (use checked items)

Non-sterile gloves No-sting skin barrier film When removing the dressing, lift the tape across the skin.
Adhesive remover Skin prep Don’t pull the dressing straight up.
Gauze sponges or pads Tape
Sterile normal saline or Other dressings
Remove the old dressing
•• Wash your hands with soap and warm water or an
Plastic trash bag
alcohol-based hand rub.
Gauze wrap or dressing
Medicine •• Put on the gloves if they are recommended.
Scissors
•• Slowly lift the corners or edges of the dressing or tape.
If it sticks to the skin, dab the edges with an adhesive
remover, a moistened gauze pad, or a moistened
paper towel.
About saline solution •• Hold down the skin surrounding the bandaged area.
Saline, also called saline solution, is sterile salt water. Gently and slowly remove the tape or dressing. Lift the
It can have different amounts of salt in it. “Normal” tape across the skin rather pulling away from the skin.
saline has about 0.9% salt. You can make it or buy it. •• Lift the edges of the dressing toward the center of the
Making saline solution wound, then gently lift it from the wound.
•• Get a clean storage container and mixing utensil. •• If the dressing sticks to the wound, soak it with saline
Either wash them in the dishwasher or boil them solution to help loosen it.
for 5 minutes.
•• Carefully discard the old dressing into a plastic trash
•• Use 1 quart (4 cups) of distilled water, or boil 1 quart
bag and tie it closed. Put that bag into a second plastic
of tap water for 5 minutes. Do not use well water or
sea water. bag and throw it away.

•• Add 2 teaspoons of table salt. •• Remove the gloves and wash your hands again.
•• Mix the water and salt well until the salt is
completely dissolved.
•• Cool to room temperature before using.
Saline solution can be stored at room temperature in a
tightly covered glass or plastic bottle. You can keep it for
up to one week. Always label it and include the date.

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Clean the wound Apply a new dressing
After you remove the dressing, you may see a thick, •• Open the new dressing and remove it from the
yellow, gummy film over your wound. This is good. It package. Touch only the corners of the dressing.
means the dressing is keeping the wound moist, which Cut it to size if necessary.
helps it to heal. Gently wash it off when you change
•• Apply a skin barrier to the skin around
the dressing. Follow these steps:
the wound.
•• Put on new gloves.
•• Carefully center the dressing over the wound.
•• Place a towel under the wound.
•• Secure the dressing in place with tape.
•• Wet a gauze sponge or pad with saline or water.
•• Remove the gloves and wash your hands.
Gently clean the wound.
–– Start at the center of the wound. Dab in circles out When should I call my
to 1 inch past the edge of the wound. Do not go healthcare providers?
from the outer edges of the wound back toward the
The following symptoms could mean that your wound is
center. This could spread germs into the wound.
infected and you need to contact your healthcare provider:
–– Be sure to clean away any liquid draining
from the wound. •• Increased pain at the wound site

–– Throw out your cloth or gauze and get a •• Redness or swelling around or spreading out
new one as often as you need to. from the wound site

•• Rinse the wound again with a new gauze pad to remove •• The wound site or surrounding area feels
any loose debris not removed by the first cleaning. warm to the touch

•• Throw the cleaning materials into the plastic trash bag. •• Foul odor coming from the wound after the wound
has been cleaned
•• Dry the skin surrounding the wound by patting
it with a soft, clean towel. •• Any change in color or amount of drainage
from the wound
•• Check the wound for redness, drainage, swelling,
or odor. •• Fever or chills, nausea or vomiting

–– New tissue at the bottom of the wound should be

light red or pink and look lumpy or glossy. Do not Additional instructions:
disturb this tissue. It is very fragile and will
bleed easily.

To contact your healthcare provider, call:

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Eating to help you heal Be sure to get enough healthy foods
Having a wound puts extra demands on your body. To Some people have trouble eating enough at meals to
heal, you need more calories and more nutrients. Wounds promote wound healing. These ideas that may help:
heal faster if you get enough of the right foods — and if •• Eat smaller meals more often. It may be easier to
you don’t, they heal more slowly. Follow the guidelines eat 6 small meals per day rather than 3 larger meals.
below to promote healing.
•• Eat healthy snacks. You can get more of the
•• Protein. Protein provides the building material for nutrition you need by snacking between meals on
muscle and skin repair. It also helps boost immunity. healthy foods such as:
Eat 3 to 4 servings per day. (One serving is 3 to 4
–– Cheese and crackers
ounces.) Good sources of protein include:
–– Cottage cheese and fruit
–– Lean animal meat, such as beef, pork, chicken, or fish
–– Half a sandwich and a small piece of fruit
–– Dried beans, peas, lentils, or tofu
–– Peanut butter or nuts and sliced apples
–– Nuts, peanut butter, or seeds
–– Granola bars and fresh fruit
–– Cheese, yogurt, or eggs
•• Vitamins and minerals. You can get most of the
•• Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates supply the energy
vitamins and minerals you need from eating a
your body needs to heal. Good choices include:
well‑balanced diet, as described above. Be sure to eat at
–– Whole grain breads and cereals least one serving per day of red meats, fortified cereals,
–– Potatoes, rice, or pasta or dark green leafy vegetables.
–– A variety of fruits and vegetables If you’re not eating at least 5 servings a day of fruits
–– Foods with vitamin A, such as bright orange fruits and vegetables, your doctor or dietitian may
and vegetables, and dark green leafy vegetables recommend a daily multi-vitamin. Only take other
vitamins or minerals of recommended by a
–– Foods with vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, peppers,
healthcare provider.
tomatoes, strawberries, cantaloupe, and broccoli
If you need further help getting enough calories and
–– If you have diabetes, carefully follow the diet protein in your diet, contact a dietitian. Your healthcare
and medications recommendations for your providers can help you find one.
diabetes. If your wounds are not healing, follow up
with your dietitian or other healthcare provider.
Special instructions:
•• Milk and dairy products. These are good sources of
•• Special diet. Some people need to follow special
both carbohydrates and protein. Unless your doctor diets for specific medical conditions. Your healthcare
says not to eat dairy, be sure to include at least 3 providers can tell you if you need to do this.
servings per day. One serving of milk or yogurt is one
•• Your special instructions from your healthcare providers:
cup. Soymilk can be substituted for regular milk.

•• Water. Water replaces fluid lost with draining wounds.
Make sure you drink about 6 to 8 cups of liquids each
day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

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and it should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. More health information
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is available at intermountainhealthcare.org. Patient and Provider Publications 801-442-2963 FS127 - 07/14 Also available in Spanish.