How to Treat Open Wounds

New York Times’ health answer man Anahad O’Connor looks at the commonly held conviction that wounds heal faster when exposed to air, and learns–nope; it’s just not true. O’Connor tells us that most experts now agree that exposing a wound to the air so it can breathe is a terrible mistake.  Studies have found that when wounds are
kept moist and covered, blood vessels regenerate faster and the number
of cells that cause inflammation drop more rapidly than they do in
wounds allowed to air out. Scientists now say it’s best to keep a wound moist and covered
for at least five days. Another common mistake, according to O’Connor, is applying antibiotic ointments.  Dr. Mark D. P. Davis, a professor of dermatology at the Mayo Clinic
in Rochester, Minn. advises Times’ readers that  ointments may keep the wound moist, but they can also lead to swelling and an allergic reaction called
contact dermatitis. Plain and simple Vaseline, applied twice a day,
works fine.