Abrasions are classified as traumatic injuries. They occur frequently in everyday life, especially among children and athletes due to falls. In most cases, these are purely superficial, harmless injuries that can be treated with targeted first-aid measures and heal well. If an abrasion weeps and looks yellowish, this could indicate an infection and should be closely monitored.
While romping and wrestling on the schoolyard and playground, cycling, or during other physical activities, children in particular quickly sustain abrasions when the skin rubs against rough surfaces such as asphalt, gravel, or crushed stone. Because one automatically tries to break a fall, the palms of the hands, forearms, elbows, and knees are usually affected. An abrasion that weeps yellowish fluid should be observed carefully, as this may indicate a possible infection.
Irregular wound edges are characteristic of abrasions. The injured area often weeps and is very painful. If only the top layer of skin is affected, only minor pinpoint bleeding occurs. Deep abrasions may bleed somewhat more heavily.
Even if the abrasion initially burns and is very painful, these are usually harmless injuries.
Nevertheless, it is important to provide careful wound care immediately:
A fall, especially outdoors, can lead to contamination. To prevent the entry of pathogens, the wound should be carefully cleaned under running water. Foreign objects such as small stones or coarse dirt can be gently removed with tweezers; if heavily soiled, the wound should subsequently be disinfected.
Small abrasions can be left to air dry. If the injured area is under clothing, a non-weeping wound can be treated with a sufficiently large adhesive bandage or a gauze compress so that the fabric does not rub against the wound and to prevent contamination. If an abrasion weeps and looks yellowish, it should also be disinfected and a doctor should be consulted.
Heavily weeping and larger wounds are covered with a moist wound dressing. This prevents the wound from drying out and sticking to the dressing material. Furthermore, the injured skin heals faster this way, and scarring occurs less frequently.
Smaller abrasions usually heal completely within two weeks. A crust of clotted blood forms on the abrasion after one to two days. This scab protects the wound and ensures that the injured skin can regenerate.
Itching usually occurs during this process. However, to avoid hindering the healing process or risking scar formation, the scab must not be scratched off. Once new tissue has formed, the scab will fall off on its own.
If the abrasion weeps initially, it is no cause for concern but rather a good sign: the body increases secretion production to flush foreign objects out of the wound. However, heavy and prolonged weeping can be an indication that dirt remains in the wound or that it has become inflamed. In the event of an infection, the affected area often feels warm, and redness, swelling, or pain occurs. In this case, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
In the case of abrasions, it is essential to check whether there is still sufficient protection against tetanus. For children, this is generally the case within the framework of regular check-ups, but for adults, it often is not. If there is no vaccination protection, the tetanus vaccination should be refreshed by a doctor immediately.
Weeping, especially with deeper and larger abrasions, is a natural reaction of the body to flush out bacteria. However, if yellowish pus forms on the abrasion, this may be a sign of a bacterial infection. The cause of the pus formation should be clarified by a doctor immediately.
In most cases, abrasions are harmless skin injuries that heal within 14 days after appropriate first aid measures. For large-scale abrasions and severe contamination, significant swelling or bleeding, persistent pain, fever, or the formation of pus, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
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