Wound Clinic

Wound care refers to the medical practice of managing and treating injuries that result in damage to the skin and underlying tissues.

Proper wound care helps with healing, preventing infection, and reducing the risk of complications.

Wounds can be classified into various types based on their cause and severity. Common types include:

• Incisions: Clean cuts made with a sharp object, eg. a knife cut
• Lacerations: Irregular cuts or tears in the skin, eg. deep scratches
• Abrasions: Scrapes or grazes that remove top layers of skin, eg. gravel rash from falling off a bicycle
• Puncture wounds: Deep, narrow injuries caused by pointed objects, eg. from a pin or nail
• Contusions: Bruises caused by blunt force trauma, eg. from a fall or heavy object
• Burns: Caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, or even friction.

Our nurse practitioners can assist in wound assessment, learn more and make a booking here.

In general, you should consult an alternative medical professional to a pharmacist for a wound if:

• The wound is deep, large, or jagged
• The bleeding does not stop after applying pressure for 10-15 minutes
• The wound is located on the face, near the eyes, or on a joint
• There is a foreign object embedded in the wound
• The wound is caused by an animal, insect or human bite
• You suspect a fracture or injury to deeper tissues
• Signs of infection (increased redness, swelling, warmth, pus) develop
• You feel that your wound is impacting your daily routine too much

In general, signs of wound infection include:

• Increased redness around the wound
• Swelling and warmth in the surrounding area
• Pus or discharge from the wound
• Increased pain or tenderness
• Red streaks extending from the wound
• Fever or chills