The Pharmacy Care section is a sponsored resource, however, the sponsor has no influence over the content, which is editorially independent.
Pharmacy Care provides information about self-care, that is how to treat minor medical conditions with products available at the pharmacy. Find out how your pharmacist can help you to manage minor conditions yourself.
Most cuts and abrasions (also called grazes) can be treated simply. Skin abrasions and blisters usually result from rubbing or friction.
if the skin is reddened but unbroken, apply a dressing strip or a dry non-stick wound pad dressing to protect the area
if the skin is broken, clean it with a mild antiseptic or weak salt solution, such as normal saline, before covering with a sterile dressing strip or dry non-stick wound pad
if cuts and abrasions are superficial and not extensive, clean with a weak salt solution or warm water
small, shallow cuts heal faster if the edges are held together with a wound closure strip
cover minor cuts and abrasions with a sterile dressing strip or dry non-stick wound pad to protect the area
cover deeper cuts or more extensive abrasions with island or film dressings
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. Nexcare, Band-Aid, Elastoplast
available in waterproof versions
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. Leuko Tapes, Steri-Strips
wound closures keep wound edges together to help healing and reduce scarring
the strips are hypoallergenic
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. Cutilin, Melolin, Telfa
dry, non-stick pads absorb any fluid without sticking to the wound
these pads need to be taped on, e.g. with Micropore Adhesive Plaster
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. Cutifilm Plus, Cutiplast Steril, Primapore, Tegaderm
Transarent Island
island dressings are self-adhesive with non-stick wound pads to absorb fluid
these dressings are available in waterproof versions
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. Cutifilm, OpSite Flexigrid, Tegaderm
the clear film enables moist wound healing to be monitored
the dressings are available in waterproof versions
they are not suitable for very moist wounds
take care that the skin is not damaged when removing film dressings. See the pharmacist for a demonstration
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. ApiNate Dressing
honey has antibacterial properties and may assist healing
no increases in blood sugar levels have been reported with this dressing, but people with diabetes should monitor their levels
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. chlorhexidine + cetrimide (Savlon Antiseptic Liquid), povidone iodine (Betadine
Antiseptic Liquid)
use to clean the area if required
some products must be diluted before use
don’t leave Betadine Antiseptic Liquid on the wound; rinse it off after a few minutes
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. chlorhexidine (Bepanthen First Aid Antiseptic Cream), chlorhexidine +
cetrimide (Savlon Antiseptic Cream, SOOV Cream), povidone iodine (Betadine
Antiseptic Ointment and Spray, Savlon Antiseptic Powder), benzalkonium chloride (Bepanthen Antiseptic Cream)
for use on minor cuts and grazes to help prevent infection
SOOV Cream also contains lignocaine, a local anaesthetic, to help reduce pain
Availability of Medicines
GENERAL SALE available through pharmacies and possibly other retail outlets.
PHARMACY ONLY available for sale through pharmacies only.
PHARMACIST ONLY may only be sold by a pharmacist.
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Last Reviewed: 26 April 2009
