Question

You are applying a saline-moistened dressing to a client's wound. The client asks, "Wouldn't it be better to let my wound dry out so a scab can form?" Which of the following responses is most appropriate?

a. "Yes, allowing a scab to form will promote faster healing."
b. "No, keeping the wound moist helps prevent scab formation and promotes healing."
c. "Scab formation is a natural part of the healing process."
d. "Letting the wound dry out can lead to infection."

Answer 1

The most accurate response is to keep the wound moist, as this aids the healing process by fostering cell migration, reducing dehydration, and minimizing scarring compared to a dry wound environment that is allowed to scab over.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to your question about wound care, keeping the wound moist is generally considered the best practice to promote healing. While it’s true that scab formation is a natural part of the body's repair process, modern wound care research suggests that a moist environment aids the healing process by facilitating the migration of epithelial cells and reducing the risk of cell dehydration and death. So, the correct answer to your question is "No, keeping the wound moist helps prevent scab formation and promotes healing." This approach helps to accelerate the healing process with less scarring and lower risk of infection in comparison to a dry, scabbed wound environment.