Abrasion (medical)
| Abrasion (medical) | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | emergency medicine |
| ICD-10 | T14.0 |
| ICD-9-CM | 919.0 |
In dermatology, an abrasion is a wound caused by superficial damage to the skin, no deeper than the epidermis. It is less severe than a laceration, and bleeding, if present, is minimal. Mild abrasions, also known as grazes or scrapes, do not scar or bleed, but deep abrasions may lead to the formation of scar tissue. A more traumatic abrasion that removes all layers of skin is called an avulsion.
Abrasion injuries most commonly occur when exposed skin comes into moving contact with a rough surface, causing a grinding or rubbing away of the upper layers of the epidermis.
By degree[edit]
- A first-degree abrasion involves only epidermal injury.
- A second-degree abrasion involves the epidermis as well as the dermis and may bleed slightly.
- A third-degree abrasion involves damage to the subcutaneous layer and the skin and is often called an avulsion.
Treatment[edit]
The abrasion should be cleaned and any debris removed. A topical antibiotic (such as Neosporin or bacitracin) should be applied to prevent infection and to keep the wound moist.[1] Dressing the wound is optional[1] but helps to keep the wound from drying out which interferes with healing.[2] If the abrasion is painful, a topical analgesic (such as lidocaine or benzocaine) can be applied, but for large abrasions. a systemic analgesic may be necessary.[1] Avoid exposing abraded skin to the sun as permanent hyperpigmentation can develop.
Healing[edit]
The gallery below shows the healing process for an abrasion on the palm caused by sliding on concrete.
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32 minutes after injury
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17 hours after injury
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1 day 19 hours after injury
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3 days after injury
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13 days after injury
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14 days after injury
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17 days after injury
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18 days after injury
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22 days after injury
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30 days after injury
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Kidd, P. S., Sturt, P. A., & Fultz, J. (2000). Mosby's emergency nursing reference (2nd ed.). St. Louis: Mosby, Inc.
- ^ Abrasions: Merck Manual Online
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