Abrasion is a term used to describe damage on the skin. Abrasion occurs when the skin has been rubbed against some rough and hard objects. An injury to epidermis of skin is generally caused due to friction and results in wound. Such abrasion or wound causes swelling, pain, bleeding and infections in some cases. However, most wounds can be treated with the simple remedies or immediate treatment by medical professionals and some wounds heal naturally with time. Healing of wounds depends on the type and degree of the abrasion.
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Key Terms: Abrasion, Epidermis, Linear abrasion, Patterned abrasions, Antibiotic, Grazed abrasion.
What is Abrasion?
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Abrasion is a damage to the skin's outer layer. It occurs if the skin is scraped or rubbed during any physical activity. The damaged region bleeds if the wound is deep and causes excruciating pain.
- Sliding, slipping on a surface, friction, etc. are common causes of this injury.
- Abrasion usually occurs on the knee, elbow, palm, fingers etc.
- Sharp objects can cause such wounds in the epidermis and other body tissues.
- It could be either internal or external.
Types of Abrasions
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There are three different categories of abrasions: linear or scratch abrasions, grazed or brush abrasions, and patterned abrasions.
Linear or scratch abrasions
Linear abrasions are comparatively simple injuries and heal within a week. It is generally caused by friction between skin and sharp objects. However, linear abrasions require immediate treatment if the wound is on or near the neck, genital areas, and inner thighs.
- Such linear abrasions are normally seen in case of sexual assaults.
- In such scenarios, scratches around the neck, thighs etc are made by nails.
- It indicates the type of attack and also serves as evidence for investigation and identification of the criminal.
- Apart from assaults, linear scratches may occur during physical activity like sports, washing and cleaning sharp objects etc.
Grazed or brush abrasions
Grazed abrasions occur due to friction between the skin and rough surfaces. Such abrasions mainly happen in road accidents and playgrounds.
- Grazed or brush abrasion is often identified by red, and inflamed regions of skin.
- The inflamed area causes severe pain.
- Moreover, the skin may contain a few tiny lumps or blisters.
- The depth of grazed abrasion depends on the force or speed and roughness of the surface.
Patterned abrasions
Perpendicular pressure on the epidermis causes patterned abrasions. It is created when an object directly impacts the surface of the body and induces vertical pressure. It results in the impression on the skin. Patterned abrasions can be either pressure or impact abrasions.
- If the epidermis is compressed for a long time, pressure abrasions will occur.
- However only a little force is needed to create pressure abrasion.
- For instance, using coarse material for hanging onto will result in a ligature mark that bears the imprint of the material.
- Impact abrasions include patterned abrasions caused by blows, crashes, run-overs, etc.
- It causes bulging of skin.
Grades of Abrasion
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The abrasion wound can be of different grades which means the depth and severity of the wound will be different in each case. The need of treatment, healing period and probable infection can be determined by identifying the degree of abrasion.
First degree abrasion
It is the mildest kind of abrasion. The epidermis, the top layer of skin, suffers only minor damage in the first degree abrasion.
Second degree abrasion
The epidermis and the deeper dermis of the skin are both injured in a second-degree abrasion. There may be light bleeding since the second layer of skin has been injured.
Third degree abrasion
Third-degree abrasion is the most serious case. In this type of injury, the skin gets broken or it separates from the body. Damage is done to the skin's innermost layer. It causes moderate to severe bleeding. Home therapy is not an option for these abrasions. Such injuries often require medical attention.
Abrasion Wound Complications
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Abrasions are particularly vulnerable to Clostridium tetani and Staphylococcus aureus infection.
If a person is not immunized against tetanus, certain wounds are more likely to promote the growth of tetanus.
- Soft scars that last for months or years might form as a result of wide and deep abrasions.
- An open incision might result in infection.
- It is one of the most dangerous adverse effects.
Infection symptoms include Inflamed skin, painful wounds, and foul-smelling, a hard, uncomfortable lump in the armpit or groin area and a fever that lasts more than four hours.
Prevention, First Aid and Treatment of Abrasion
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To avoid any kind of abrasion, one should take necessary precautions. In case of sudden injury, a person should look for available first-aid treatments to prevent prolonged infection and pain. Below are some first-aid and preventative measures that one must follow.
- While playing, put on the appropriate safety gear.
- It should include the appropriate sports equipment such as gloves, protectors, helmets, shoes, etc.
- Clean the damage area with some antiseptic cream and wash it properly with soap to prevent infection.
- To stop the blood flow, place the hands immediately on the cut and apply pressure.
- Apply an antibiotic cream to the wound after it has been cleaned.
- This will aid in eliminating any harmful bacteria that may have contacted the wound.
- To prevent further bleeding, one can apply the ointment.
- A clean bandage or piece of cloth should be used to cover a mild or bleeding abrasion
- To help avoid infection, change the bandage periodically.
- A person should visit the doctor in case of severe pain, continuous bleeding or persistent infection.
Unless a person has received a tetanus vaccination, some wounds are more likely to promote the growth of tetanus bacteria. An infected person requires a booster dose if it has been more than five years of vaccination.
Also Read:
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| Laceration | Structure and Functions of Skin | Difference between Epidermis and Dermis |
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Things to Remember
- Abrasion is defined as a damage to the epidermis of skin.
- The damage results in wounds or scratches that may bleed.
- Abrasions can be of three types- Linear, Grazed and Patterned.
- The patterned abrasion is further described as pressure and impact abrasions.
- Degree of abrasion shows the degree of damage.
- Some injuries require no special treatment for healing.
- For example, linear abrasion caused by routine physical activities.
- Injuries caused by grazed abrasions need to be treated immediately.
- Abrasion wounds are prone to tetanus infection.
- First-aid must be given to avoid further infection and complications.
Sample Questions
Ques. How do you treat an abrasion? (2 marks)
Ans. For a mild abrasion that does not go deep into the skin, you might be able to apply at-home remedies.
Gently clean the wound with lukewarm water and mild soap. Use a bandage or clean cloth to cover the wound. Antiseptic cream or ointment can be applied to the scratch in order to avoid infection.
If an abrasion is bleeding heavily or looks infected, seek medical treatment.
Ques. How can one determine whether an abrasion is infected? (1 mark)
Ans. If an abrasion produces an unpleasant discharge, the surrounding skin is painful or discolored, or you have a fever, you may be infected. In the event that a person encounters any of these or other unsettling symptoms, he/she must visit a doctor.
Ques. What are the three types of abrasion? (5 marks)
Ans. Abrasions can be divided into three groups: patterned abrasions, grazed abrasions, and linear abrasions.
Linear abrasions
Linear abrasions are defined as scratches that cross the skin's surface. Such injuries occur during the routine physical activity such as washing or cleaning the sharp objects. These wounds are not that serious and heal within a week but if such wounds are near the neck, genital area or inner thighs, a person should take it seriously. Linear abrasions are common in cases of sexual assaults.
Grazed or brush burns
A grazed or brush abrasion is a type of skin injury that can occur when your skin comes into contact with a rough surface or object. It usually happens in road accidents and during playing any sports on playgrounds.
Patterned abrasions
Patterned abrasions result from pressure on the epidermis. It can be either pressure abrasion or impact abrasion. It makes an impression on the skin.
Ques. What are the complications of abrasions? (2 marks)
Ans. Abrasions result in wounds that may bleed if it's deep into the skin. The wounds are more prone to infection. Bacteria or other microbes can invade the tissues and cause inflammation, pain, or in some cases tetanus can be caused from infections. The wounds may leave scars on the skin.
Ques. What can be the treatment for abrasions? (4 marks)
Ans. The initial step in treatment is to irrigate the area with water or saline solution. The majority of the time, these abrasions heal completely without leaving any scars.
A minor or bleeding abrasion should be covered with a clean bandage or piece of cloth. The bandage should be changed regularly to prevent infection.
After cleaning the wound, antibiotics can be applied to it. This will aid in removing any hazardous bacteria that may have reached the wound. To avoid additional bleeding, ointment can be applied
Certain wounds are more likely than others to grow tetanus bacteria, unless a person is vaccinated against tetanus. Therefore, vaccination is necessary for severe abrasions.
Ques. What are the grades of abrasion? (5 marks)
Ans. Abrasions are classified into 3 grades that represent the degree of the damage.
First degree abrasion
First-degree abrasions are the least severe type. Very slight harm is done to the epidermis. It heals naturally with time.
Second degree abrasion
With a second-degree abrasion, both the epidermis and the deeper dermis of the skin are harmed. If the second layer of skin has been damaged, there may be little bleeding as well.
Third degree abrasion
Third-degree abrasions are the most severe kind of abrasion. These abrasions, sometimes referred to as avulsion wounds, occur when the skin ruptures or separates from the body.
Ques. What are the at-home treatments for abrasion? (4 marks)
Ans. Treatment of the majority of first- or second-degree abrasions can be managed at home. Taking care of an injury
Use cool to lukewarm water and mild soap to gently wash the region. Utilize sterile forceps to remove any dirt or other debris from the wound.
Leave the wound exposed for a minor scrape that is not bleeding.
If the wound is bleeding, stop it by applying gentle pressure to the region with a clean cloth or bandage.
Apply a thin coating of sterile Aquaphor or topical antibiotic ointment, such as Bacitracin, to a wound that is bleeding. Use some fresh gauze or a cloth to cover it. Change the bandage and ointment, and gently clean the area.
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