Q: Some people say it is better not to use a Band-Aid when you get a small cut on your finger, so that the air will cause it to heal faster. What do you think?
A: In most cases it is better to use a Band-Aid or Elastoplast because they are designed to keep out germs as much as possible. They also serve as a protective barrier in case you knock your hand against something and open up the wound again. These days, the plastic strips are designed with small perforations to let some air circulate.
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I must admit that I don’t always use one if it is a small, shallow abrasion, but then they say doctors always make the worst patients. Another exception could be if you discovered the wound a little late, after the blood had dried and formed a scab. The scab protects the wound from bacteria. If the area is very dirty, it might be better to remove the scab and clean with a mild disinfectant such as diluted Dettol.
An alternative is to use a spray-on bandage. It covers the wound like a second skin to allow natural healing underneath. The spray is 100 percent waterproof allowing you to swim or bathe since it doesn’t wash off. It is also useful for odd shaped wounds or scrapes that cover a large area, where a Band-Aid would not be practical.
There is no need to remove the spray as it gradually disappears as the wound heals.
The makers of Elastoplast have also recently released a new type of adhesive strip bandage known as Silverhealing.
The manufacturers claim it accelerates the healing process without using typical antibiotics. Inside the strip there is a tiny plastic net coated with metallic silver. Silver ions are released into the wound, destroying germs and reducing the risk of infections.
Because there is less time and energy wasted in fighting infection, the wound heals more quickly.
Silver has been used since Roman times to prevent spoilage in urns, even though they had not yet discovered bacteria. The metal was later used for dishes, drinking goblets and flatware, because it was proven that this helped fight the spread of diseases.
Before antibiotics were discovered, silver leaf was used to combat wound infections in the First World War.
More recently, researchers have discovered that colloidal silver can be useful in a variety of bacterial, viral and fungal conditions. It has also been successful in combating the herpes viruses, both the ones that cause cold sores and those responsible for the sexually transmitted disease.
Clare Rowson is a medical doctor with a practice near Belleville, Ont. Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding medical questions and treatments.
