Technique

How to treat road rash

Regardless of how serious a crash is, it always sucks. Most cyclists inevitably find themselves off their bikes at some point, usually wondering what happened and eager to make sure their bikes are OK. If you crash, first rule out any severe injuries, such as broken bones or a concussion. After that, what you’re left with is usually less skin than you had before – and maybe a little bit of the road in its place. But besides the promise of a painful shower to look forward to once the adrenalin wears off, what do cyclists need to know about handling road rash?

According to Darren Metta, a paramedic who works as a special operations supervisor with the BC Emergency Health Services bike squad in Vancouver, the treatment of road rash can usually be handled at home. “In most cases, road rash does not warrant a trip to the hospital and should heal within two weeks,” he says, adding that a cyclist whose road rash penetrates multiple levels of skin, shows signs of infection or takes longer than those two weeks to heal should see a health-care provider for evaluation.

Metta, who is an avid recreational cyclist on top of his role as a bike paramedic, said getting road rash cleaned up as soon as possible is a priority. “To prevent infection, treat and clean it right away,” he says. Make sure you wash your hands with soap and water to get rid of any bacteria that might cause infection before you start cleaning the wound.

“He says it’s important to get rid of any souvenirs you picked up in the crash.”

“Gently wash the injury with sterile water and antibacterial soap, but don’t scrub the injury as this could cause further damage,” he says. Don’t be tempted to use hydrogen peroxide, Mezza warns, explaining that it damages skin cells.

As you clean the road rash, you’ll probably come across some of that road surface mentioned earlier. Mezza says it’s important to get rid of any souvenirs you picked up in the crash. “Remove any debris, such as rocks, glass, grass and dirt,” he says. “You may have to use tweezers to pick out larger embedded items.”

Once you’ve finished cleaning things up, apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream to help reduce the chances of infection. Then, it’s time to get the road rash covered – a key factor in promoting healing and managing discomfort. “Dress the wound with non-stick bandages or gauze to promote healing and to help with infection control,” Mezza says, adding that this process of applying an antibiotic cream and fresh dressings should be repeated daily.

Once the sting of the crash has worn off, most cyclists are eager to get back on their bikes. But how will you know when you’re good to go? “The skin is healed when it appears dull pink or red, not moist or weepy, and no longer stings when you touch it,” Mezza says. He also added that the longer you can leave your road rash undisturbed, the better. That being said, you may be able to get back in the saddle before the healing process is complete, but make sure to be smart about it. Allow things to heal properly, which can help prevent a scar from becoming worse than it needs to be. “Depending on where the wound is, you may be able to ride before it is totally healed, but be mindful of disturbing a scab forming over the wound: this is the body’s natural bandage,” Mezza says. “Even if the wound has healed, new skin is sensitive. Avoiding the sun will help limit the scarring.”