Skin Avulsions

DEFINITION: A skin avulsion is when a piece of skin has been
removed from the skin surface.

Skin avulsions are partial layer or full layer.

A partial layer skin avulsion is more common in
people greater than 60 years of age.  An elbow contusion
or knee contusion commonly cause partial layer skin avulsions.
The partial skin avulsions usually heal well with  antibacterial
ointment with a clean dressing.  In most cases, best results
occur with washing the wound with soap and water every 12 hours
then appling the healing ointment with a clean or sterile dressing.

A full thickness skin avulsion can still have the skin attached
by a small piece of skin or it can be completely removed.

Depending upon the size, will determine the definitive therapy.

If large, one can wash the wound with soap and water and change
the dressings every 12 hours and let the scar tissue grow inside
the wound until healed.  This can take months with a large wound.

If the avulsed piece is still available or the wound is small,
suturing may be work out very well.

Therapy:  Wash wound with soap and water every 12 hours and
change the dressing and use antibacterial ointment.

Larger wounds may need surgical intervention with skin
grafts.

Alternative therapies include putting the wound into a
high oxygen environment, putting the wound in decompression
chambers, herbal poultices, and others.

Those people with chronic diseases especially diabetes
need to take extra caution and care because of bad outcomes
are much more common with complicating factors.

IF PROBLEMS: If any signs of infection occur (swelling, redness,
increasing tenderness, red streaks, profuse purulent drainage from the
avulsion, tender lumps in the armpit or groin above the avulsion, or
fever), see your doctor immediately.

If you are already on antibiotics for this wound, it signs
of infection are starting (they can occur in a few hours),
you should contact the physician that was involved with
the surgical repair.