Many children and adults are still enjoying the warmer sunny evenings and playing outside on the weekends. It is a great time of year to spend the weekend biking in cooler weather as a family. Sometimes though a crash on a bicycle, skateboard, or dirt bike might happen, people may say “another one bites the dust”. Other common things talked about when a crash or scrap on the skin happens are road rash or raspberry. Read on to learn more about road rash, what it is, and what causes it—also, as ways to treat the inflammation at home.
Healthy Tip Tuesday is brought to you in partnership with Trinity Health Systems.
What is Road rash?
A common skin irritation that simply happens as a result of being outdoors and enjoying physical activities.
Sometimes when kids or adults are being physically active, they may take a tumble. This skin abrasion is friction burn from the skin hitting the pavement. It does not mean there is heat involved, but it can generate low levels and requires precautions for treatment as a burn would.
What does it look like?
- Large scrape on the skin
- Skin feels raw
- Looks red and can produce small amounts of blood
- Hot and inflamed
Good news!
The wound can be treated at home and will heal within 10-14 days without leaving a scar. If it is treated with care there should be no concern for infection.
How to treat it?
- Wash hands before treating the wound
- Wash wound with soap and lukewarm water
- Remove as much dirt and gravel from the area as possible. Use a tweezer if necessary.
- Apply antibiotic ointment
- Bandage the wound for protection
When to seek medical care
- The wound covers a large area of the body
- The debris can not be removed from the wound
- Pain is too much to manage at home
- The cut is too deep and the bleeding will not stop
- The wound hasn’t healed in 10-14 days
- Pus or fever results after the accident.
