Why not all wounds need the same treatment
7.9.2026
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Scrapes, scratches and grazes are often treated with something that’s meant to speed up the healing process. However, if ointments, antiseptics or special plasters actually help depends less on the product than on the injury.
Fall and graze your knee? Cut your finger with a knife? Wear new shoes that gave you blisters? Many minor injuries are easily treated at home, but what’s the best way to do it? Should you wash out the wound or disinfect it? Apply ointment or hydrogel? Let it dry or treat it while it’s still wet? This short guide has the answers.
Cuts or scrapes: rinse out, apply a plaster, done
First up, wash your hands. Rinse the wound under clean, running water and gently remove any visible dirt. If it’s still bleeding, apply pressure evenly with a sterile gauze pad or a clean, lint-free cloth. Give it a moment, preferably without checking every few seconds to see if the bleeding’s stopped yet.
Once it has, applying a plaster or sterile wound dressing should do the trick (link in German). And that’s you basically done. You might be wondering if the wound should be disinfected. For small, clean wounds, there’s no need for disinfectant, as some may additionally irritate the skin. However, if the wound is very dirty or likely to become infected, using a wound antiseptic is probably a good idea (link in German).
Ointment, gel, plaster or all of the above?
Some bathroom cabinets are brimming with first-aid supplies, so you’d be forgiven for thinking every scratch and graze needs its own special treatment. In reality, however, all you need is to cover it; your body will take care of the rest.
| Mittel | Wann es passt | Wann lieber nicht |
|---|---|---|
| Pflaster oder sterile Kompresse | kleine Schnitte und Schürfwunden; Schutz vor Schmutz und Reibung | bei tiefen, klaffenden oder stark blutenden Wunden |
| nicht haftende Wundauflage | größere Schürfwunden und offene Blasen; sie klebt weniger fest | bei Wunden, die ärztlich versorgt werden müssen |
| Hydrokolloidpflaster | Reibungsblasen sowie oberflächliche, nicht infizierte Wunden mit wenig Wundsekret | bei entzündeten, stark nässenden oder unklar tiefen Wunden |
| Hydrogel | trockene, wenig nässende oberflächliche Wunden; meist als Teil einer Wundauflage | bei stark nässenden oder infektionsverdächtigen Wunden; für kleine Alltagsschnitte meist überflüssig |
| fettige Wund- oder Heilsalbe | trockene, bereits heilende Haut | frische, nässende oder verschmutzte Wunden |
| Antibiotikasalbe | nur nach medizinischer Empfehlung | nicht vorsorglich auf jede Wunde |
Wound care
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Octenisept Wound gel
Gel, 20 ml
Blisters: leave the skin on
A closed blister already has a natural plaster, namely the skin covering it. Try to keep it intact as best possible by taking the pressure off the area and changing into more comfortable shoes.
If this isn’t an option and you need to keep walking in them, a hydrocolloid blister patch can provide some relief. Once the blister’s burst, gently rinse it, leave the remaining skin in place for protection and cover it with a non-adhesive wound dressing or a blister plaster.
Burns: cool the area and don’t experiment
For minor burns or scalds, you should hold the affected area under cool to lukewarm running water for 20 minutes as soon as possible. Applying ice and ice-cold water are too harsh and might cause additional damage to the skin. A burn gel or special hydrogel pad is no substitute for holding the affected area under running water, but they can be soothing afterward and help relieve the pain.
After cooling, protect the area if required by lightly covering the burn with a sterile, lint-free pad or clean plastic wrap. Avoid experimenting with butter, oil, toothpaste and other creative home remedies.
When to see a doctor
If the bleeding doesn’t stop despite applying pressure, if the wound is very deep or heavily soiled, or if something is stuck in it, it’s best to see a medical professional. The same applies if the area becomes increasingly red, warm, swollen or painful or starts to ooze pus. Red lines or a fever also require medical attention.
Burns that start to blister, are open or span a large surface also need to be shown to a professional. This also applies to chemical and electrical burns.
For deep or dirty wounds, it’s a good idea to check your vaccination record. If you’re unsure when you last got a tetanus jab or if it needs refreshing, get in touch with your doctor or local pharmacy.
Header image: Marcos Castillo/Shutterstock
Anna Sandner
Senior Editor
Anna.Sandner@galaxus.deScience editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always the outdoors - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.
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