Cleaning a graze properly, including road rash
Grit left in a graze causes both infection and permanent marking. Getting it out is the whole job.
A graze is a shallow, wide wound with a large contaminated surface. The priority is not covering it — it is getting the debris out, because anything left behind can become a permanent dark speck in the healed skin.
Irrigate generously
Cool running water for several minutes, or sterile saline. Volume and time do the work. Let the water run across the graze rather than blasting at it.
Lift out what remains
Use a clean gauze swab and wipe gently from the centre outwards. If grit is embedded and will not come free with reasonable effort, stop. That needs a professional, not harder scrubbing.
Dry the edges, not the wound
Pat the intact skin around the graze dry so the dressing will hold. Leave the wound bed alone.
Cover it
Grazes weep, so you want enough absorbency and enough margin. A 10 × 10cm or 8 × 15cm dressing suits most knee and forearm grazes. Change when the pad becomes saturated — on the first day that may be twice.
Do not let it dry into a hard scab
A thick dry scab cracks every time the joint moves and delays closure. Keeping it covered keeps the surface supple.
See a pharmacist, GP or urgent care if a wound will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, is deep or gaping, was caused by something dirty or rusty, contains anything you cannot flush out, or shows spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever. Get help urgently for animal or human bites, wounds over a joint, and any wound in someone with diabetes or poor circulation.
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FitMedix products are CE-marked medical devices intended for the care of minor wounds. This site does not provide medical advice — seek professional help for deep, dirty or non-healing wounds, or if signs of infection appear. Always read the instructions on the pack.