Everyone gets small cuts, animal scratches, skinned knees, or puncture wounds from time to time. It can be quite tricky to determine whether a scrape or a wound needs medical attention. Mild lacerations can heal on their own without the need for health care intervention. However, there are some wounds that are severe enough that urgent medical treatment is required to ensure proper healing.

If the wound is life-threatening or could cause permanent damage, the emergency department is your best option. For lesser wounds, if you can't get an immediate appointment with your primary care physician, Doc-Aid Urgent Care can be your wound care center.

The majority of minor scrapes and cuts can be dealt with at home by thoroughly cleaning the wound and can be treated with the application of an antibiotic ointment. In case you are reading this while you are applying pressure on a fresh wound, we advise that you inspect the wound. Go to your local emergency room right away if:

- Blood is spurting out
- The wound is jagged or gapping and is deeper than ¼ inch
- There is severe bleeding
- The wound is made by a rusty object
- The wound is over a joint and opens every time you move
- After applying pressure for ten minutes the bleeding persists
- Bone, muscle, or fat can be seen through the wound

In order to treat your wound, your wound care specialist will begin by cleaning out the wound and applying a dressing. They may recommend further treatment options such as antibiotics to help it heal.

Next, the wound care specialist will debride the wound by removing dead tissue and skin. This process is necessary in order to help your wound heal. Your wound may seem deeper and bigger after debridement with red or pink surrounding the wound as if looking at fresh meat.

Our approach to wound care is comprehensive and aggressive, using traditional and advanced techniques and therapies that have been proven to reduce healing times.

We begin with a thorough evaluation and diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of the wound since non-healing wounds rarely result from a single cause. We then develop a treatment plan to offer the best chance for healing. Most treatments are covered by insurance. The treatment plan may include the following, depending on the type of wound:

- Infection control
- Restoration of blood flow
- Debridement (removal of dead tissue)
- Offloading
- Skin substitutes
- Foot reconstruction
- Skin graft or flap

Wound care at Doc-Aid is usually performed by wound care specialists. Doctors and mid-level providers are trained specifically in wound care at wound care centers.

Wound specialists are health care professionals who have been trained in the care and treatment of all types of wounds. Among the most commonly treated wounds are those sustained from an acute injury, diabetic wounds, and pressure sores. Additionally, wound care professionals are needed to help the estimated 5 million Americans who suffer from wounds that will not heal. Patients suffering from non-healing wounds experience a disruption in their everyday lives, and wound care specialists have a significant impact on their quality of life.

If you or someone you know have recently sustained a wound and it requires further care, come to Doc-Aid Urgent Care today! We have a clean, safe facility to treat your wounds and provide you with professional, speedy service. Contact our office today to get in touch with a specialist. To book an appointment, call us or visit us online! We are located at 2310 E. Saunders Suite 2A Laredo, TX 78041. We serve patients from Laredo TX, Hebbronville TX, Zapata TX, Carrizo Springs TX, Cotulla TX, and Eagle Pass TX.