Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!

Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.

If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.

Call a medical professional, However I use a thin layer of petroleum jelly to form a barrier, either on the wound or the gauze/band aid.

There are non stick wound pads that can help. Depending on the wound a different type of closure could help as well, such as zip stitches

You can and should buy non sticky patch. First clean the wound with antiseptic, let it air dry a little, apply the non sticky patch on it, and THEN use the gaze to hold the patch. You can reuse the gaze but not the non sticky patch. Clean it daily until the scab is forming. Then you can leave it to air dry and moisturize it if it becomes to itchy (and that the wound is perfectly closed)

Try a hydrocolloid plaster, as long as the wound doesn’t need to drain. These are coated with a gel that helps the wound to heal rather than fibres that may get stuck in it.

Use xeroform or an antibiotic ointment.

Last year my spouse gashed his leg and the urgent care used petroleum jelly both to protect the wound from air, and to keep the dressing from sticking.

They said current standard of care says not to use antibiotic ointment; it’s better to clean thoroughly then use just a barrier cream (like petroleum jelly).

[removed]

simple. dont use gauze. see a professional nurses ate the wound gurus

I’ve heard that, too. Do you know why antibiotic ointment isn’t being recommended? I can Google it but thought I’d ask.

Pop into your chemist and ask to speak to the pharmacist. Describe your problem. They will recommend a suitable dressing.

Spenco 2nd skin pads are the answer. Best product on the market and helps any cut, gash, burn you name it heal fast and not stick to bandages.

Choose a non-adhesive dressing: Instead of using a traditional gauze or bandaid, consider using a non-adhesive dressing that won't stick to your wound. Silicone or foam dressings are good options that won't cause additional trauma when removing them.

Use a non-stick gauze: If you need to use a traditional gauze, look for one that is non-stick. These dressings have a special coating that prevents them from sticking to the wound.

Apply a barrier cream: Applying a thin layer of barrier cream or ointment, such as petroleum jelly or zinc oxide, can help create a protective layer between the wound and the dressing, preventing it from sticking.

Wet the dressing: Wetting the gauze or bandaid slightly before applying it to the wound can help prevent it from sticking. Just be sure to wring out any excess water before applying the dressing.

Change the dressing regularly: Changing the dressing regularly, at least once a day, can help prevent it from sticking to the wound. If the dressing is stuck to the wound, soak it in warm water to loosen it before removing it.

Not the person who commented, but my guess would be the following:

1. Especially if the wound is new, bacteria have not had a chance to spread/multiply. Washing it removes majority of them.
2. We should be careful about using antibiotics all over the place. Last time we found a new antibiotic was in early 2000s (2001 if i remember correctly). Superbugs are out there and by using antibiotics where we don’t need them, we create more of them.
3. (This one is more of a personal opinion). Antibiotics are really not needed, especially for smaller wounds. I have not used any of them except hydrogen peroxide when i was smaller (and research shows it’s actually counter productive to the wound healing). Human bodies survived for a long time without access to those and it’s not like wounds were rare in the past. I’m also not saying not to use them in any scenario, but rather just when needed and warranted.

I this this is right. The studies that show that antibiotic ointment actually slows healing were the main point the urgent care folks made. Plus thorough washing is usually sufficient.

Soak it for a while before unwrapping it. It helped me getting it unstuck without opening my wound again.

Nexcare Tegaderm