Simple wound healing....

[Dianyla]

Periodic soaks in very warm saline solution can also help.

[Catrin]

Thanks - I felt kind of silly about such a basic question but nothing seems to be working...and I don't want to risk infection. I also have diabetes (2), and while it is quite mild I want to be more careful about such things. All of my other bike related bites have healed well - and several were worse.

[limewave]

Periodic soaks in very warm saline solution can also help.

I agree with this. I can't believe how much faster my wounds heal when I do a salt and baking soda bath.

[Catrin]

I agree with this. I can't believe how much faster my wounds heal when I do a salt and baking soda bath.

I will do this - while the rate of new wounds to miles on the bike is finally decreasing, I still get at least one new one a week. Perhaps I should just make this part of my weekend routine

I could also consider this an incentive to finally moving to clipless pedals - as these days most of the wounds are from the BMX pedals walloping me....

[badger]

a couple of years ago I wiped out when I went over the handlebar when I hit a nasty pothole. The back pack strap rubbed a couple of layers of skin off on my chest under the collarbone. I really didn't want a scar there (and I scar very easily).

I babied it like nothing else with tea tree oil to prevent infection, slathered on pure shea butter, then kept it under sterile gauze until it wasn't scabby anymore (about 10 days). It was much more comfortable without my skin shrinking, and in the end it didn't leave a scar.

[zia]

When I was nursing, I used Lancinot (pure lanolin) often, and have continued using it even though my nursing days are well behind me. I prefer it to using topical antibiotics. Keeps the area nice and more, and apparently helps your cells regenerate faster. I am insanely allergic to goats. I was a little worried lamb products would bother me, but I haven't had a problem.

[malkin]

I'm a big fan of neosporin and then of that green stuff from Burt's Bees.

My granny had some really nasty goop that she smeared on us for just about anything. I know how we said it, but have no idea how it is/was spelled.

[Catrin]

The Neosporin doesn't seem to be working - though it isn't getting worse and there are no signs of infection. I guess I will talk with the pharmacist to see if they know what the bandage is that tctrek mentioned. It has been almost 3 weeks - and it isn't a very large place at all - but all of the skin came off (chain ring bite).

Am starting to think that my chain ring is a vampire...