Quote Originally Posted by SadieKate
I thought no air = infection. Bacteria lurve no air. I thought the trick was moist and some air, the reason for Tegaderm, Second Skin, etc.
Okay, maybe NO AIR is a bit of an exaggeration. But you don't want the wound to AIR DRY. The only way to keep a wound wet is to keep it covered (and not in a gauze bandage).

This is the method I was taught in the ER after getting hit by a car in 2002. I had road rash up my entire right side and you'd never find a scar now. And I didn't get any infections. The secret is to scrub it twice a day, put anti-bacterial ointment on the site, and cover it so it stays wet. You can buy expensive bandages (like Tegaderm) if you want, but I found Saran Wrap works just as well and because it's large you can wrap body parts easily. You might have to put an athletic wrap over the Saran Wrap to keep it on.

And you'll crinkle when you walk.....

BTW, this is the standard treatment for road rash, not big gaping wounds. All my racers have used the same method over the years (and no scars).