TREAT ROADRASH

GP Andy Ward has advice to take the sting from your skin

If you’ve ever fallen off your bike, you’ll be familiar with road rash. There are three levels of injury, depending on the layers of skin involved. A first-degree abrasion involves only the upper layer (epidermis), producing a bit of redness and requiring no treatment. Seconddegree abrasions, typical road rash, go down to the next layer (dermis), damaging blood vessels and nerve endings. These wounds bleed and are very tender. A third-degree abrasion (avulsion) gets down to the deep tissue and is more serious, possibly requiring skin grafts to heal properly.

FIRST AID

If the abrasion is deep or bigger than the palm of your hand, consider seeking medical advice from your GP or A&E. If not, clean the wound thoroughly. The best way is to use plastic vials of sterile saline solution, which are available from a chemist, and squirt them over the wound to dislodge dirt. Follow this up with a gentle wash: grit your teeth (swearing may be necessary) and use antibacterial soap, sterile gauze and water. Avoid leaving debris in the wound as it may leave an unsightly ‘tattoo’.

FOLLOW UP

After cleaning the wound, apply a hydrocolloid dressing. These are available from chemists and are a medicine cabinet essential for road cyclists. The dressing absorbs liquid from the wound - leave it on until it falls off in five to seven days. Be aware of the signs of infection – increasing pain, spreading inflammation, swelling or pus – these require medical attention. Keep the healing wound out of sunlight for a month to avoid permanent darkening of the skin.