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[WOUND CARE 101.🩹]

Let’s face it, if you play a sport you will likely encounter things such as abrasions, lacerations, blisters, and other types of superficial wounds. 

Before getting into the treatment of skin wounds, we’ll first build a foundation of knowledge around skin anatomy, types of wounds, and what causes such wounds. The skin is actually the body’s largest organ, creating the first barrier of protection against germs and bacteria we come in contact with daily. The skin is composed of multiple layers, each with their own responsibility and purpose.1 

The outermost layer is called the epidermis and is responsible for creating a barrier against germs and bacteria entering our bloodstream. The epidermis is constantly regenerating new skin cells to reinforce that protective barrier.1 

The dermis is the middle layer of skin and has many uses. This layer is the thickest out of the three, and contains elastin and collagen fibers. Along with these fiber bundles, the dermis also houses the sweat glands, hair follicles, hair, muscles, sensory neurons, and blood vessels.1 The main functions of the dermis are to support the skin’s structure, provide blood flow for the skin, and support functions such as sweating, sensation, and producing hair.2 

The hypodermis, or commonly referred to as the subcutaneous layer, is the innermost layer of skin. This layer mainly consists of fat cells, sensory neurons, and blood vessels.1 As the deepest layer, the hypodermis is responsible for storing fat and energy, acting as a shock absorber for impacts to the skin, connects the dermis and epidermis to bones and cartilage, regulates body temperature, and is responsible for hormone production (leptin).3,4 

ABRASIONS

Abrasions typically only affect the outermost layer of skin. They are considered common skin wounds, and oftentimes don’t require medical intervention outside of home care. Most times abrasions occur due to friction, or rubbing against a rough or uneven surface. Abrasions can be treated by washing the wound with soap and water, ensuring the area is clear of debris, patting the wound dry, applying a thin layer of ointment, covering the wound with a bandage, and repeating every day until healed. Avoid touching the abrasion as it heals, and do not pick at dead skin.5,6 

LACERATIONS

Unlike abrasions where the skin is rubbed off, skin lacerations are more of a tear in the skin. Depending on the severity, skin lacerations have the potential to impact all three skin layers. Lacerations are typically caused by blunt trauma, or encountering a sharp object. If the laceration is able to be treated at home/on-site, apply direct pressure to the wound to ease the flow of blood, and elevate the wound above the heart if possible. Once the bleeding has slowed or ceased, irrigate the wound to remove debris and other contaminants. Apply ointment to the wound and cover with sterile gauze and a bandage to avoid infection. Remove bandage periodically to monitor wound healing.7 If any of the following criteria are true, the laceration will need additional medical care: exposed muscle/fat/tendon/bone, dirt and debris in wound even after irrigating, feeling like an object is in the wound, bleeding continues after applying direct pressure for 10-15 minutes, jagged or uneven edges, skin lesion depth more than â…› to ¼ inch deep, location on areas of high stress (joints, hands, feet, chest, face), possible severe scarring.8 

BLISTERS

A blister is a bubble of fluid that sits directly under the top layer of skin. Blisters can be caused by numerous factors including, but not limited to, burns, sunburn, friction, skin infections, allergic reactions, and autoimmune disease.9 Treatment for blisters is fairly straightforward and can be done at home. Most health care providers recommend not puncturing the blister to release the fluid, as this can lead to infection. Blisters should be washed with soap and water, and kept clean and dry. A donut pad can be fashioned around the blister to prevent further friction around the already affected area. If a blister bursts, cover the area with a clean bandage to prevent bacteria from getting to the open wound site. Monitor the blister for any signs of infection.9 To prevent future blisters from popping up, wearing proper fitting footwear is essential. Try to avoid irritants to the skin, and anything that could create increased friction against the skin barrier.10 

PUNCTURES 

Though puncture wounds might not appear as gruesome or serious as a laceration might, they can pose a high risk of infection.11,12 Puncture wounds are oftentimes found on the extremities, commonly occurring by stepping on something, or by animal bite to the hands. Immediate treatment is crucial when it comes to puncture wounds, due to the high risk of infection and subsequent tissue damage.12 Unlike lacerations, puncture wounds create a narrow entry hole caused by a pointy object. Since the skin lesion is so narrow, the depth of penetration is hard to gauge.12 A puncture wound must be properly cleaned, and oftentimes requires additional medical care through a healthcare provider. The following conditions require immediate medical care: bleeding continues after a few minutes of direct pressure, animal bite, the puncture site is deep and contaminated, puncture was inflicted by a metal object, signs of infection are present, the wound is deep and located over a joint.11 Once treatment is received for a puncture wound, the traumatized site must be monitored closely to ensure so signs of infection. 

With any kind of break in the skin barrier, no matter the type of wound, attempts must be made to limit the chance of infection. Things like keeping the wound site clean, changing soiled bandages, and following medical care instructions are all necessary steps.14 Some common signs and symptoms to be watchful for in regards to possible infection are: fever and chills, increased pain or continued bleeding from wound, discolored pus leaking from wound, foul smelling odor, redness and/or red streaks extending from wound along with swelling, skin is warm to the touch around wound site, and delayed healing.15 If any of these signs or symptoms are present at any point during the healing process, seek immediate medical care. Antibiotics might need to be taken orally in order to fully combat the infection.15

RESOURCES

  1. Yousef, H. (2024) Anatomy, skin (integument), epidermis, StatPearls [Internet]. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470464/ (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  2. API, S. (2023) What is the dermis? functions and significance, OneSkin. Available at: https://www.oneskin.co/blogs/reference-lab/what-is-dermis?srsltid=AfmBOoqEpcQb0-Lsf_EtP_9N5k2jkKMsa5pU_FRd8DsUAi76EgblMF9M (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  3. 10, U. on N. (2021) Understanding the role of the hypodermis layer of your skin, SkinKraft. Available at: https://skinkraft.com/blogs/articles/hypodermis-layer (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  4. Roytblat, D. (2022) The hypodermis- peeling back the layers, DermaSpark Products Inc. Available at: https://dermaspark.com/the-hypodermis-peeling-back-the-layers/ (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  5. Shrestha, R. (2023) Abrasion, StatPearls [Internet]. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554465/ (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  6. A skinned knee: How to treat abrasions (2025) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25079-abrasion (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  7. Lacerations (2023) Johns Hopkins Medicine. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lacerations (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  8. Laceration repair (no date) Laceration Repair | UVA Health. Available at: https://uvahealth.com/services/plastic-surgery/laceration-repair (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  9. Blisters (2024) Johns Hopkins Medicine. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/blisters (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  10. Blisters (overview) (2023) Harvard Health. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/blisters-overview-a-to-z (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  11. Puncture wounds: First aid (2024) Mayo Clinic. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-puncture-wounds/basics/art-20056665 (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  12. Lagattuta, J. (2024) Puncture wounds, Northwest Extremity Specialists. Available at: https://nespecialists.com/puncture-wounds/ (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  13. Puncture wounds: Care instructions (no date) MyHealth.Alberta.ca Government of Alberta Personal Health Portal. Available at: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=uf7580 (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  14. Faley, K. (2025) How to tell if a wound is healing or infected, OSF HealthCare Blog. Available at: https://www.osfhealthcare.org/blog/how-to-tell-if-a-wound-is-healing-or-infected/ (Accessed: 16 June 2025). 
  15. Glencoe Regional Health (2025) Spot the 8 signs of a wound infection, Glencoe Regional Health. Available at: https://glencoehealth.org/health-and-wellness/spot-the-8-signs-of-a-wound-infection/ (Accessed: 16 June 2025).