As an active participant in any "extreme" outdoor activities - and some indoor ones - suffering from road rash is inevitable. And it goes far beyond a well skinned knee. Road rash is a term for the wounds created when skin is damaged as a result of abrasion against any rough surface, but more often than not, an asphalt road.

Cyclists, runners, skateboarders, mountain bikers and generally anyone else engaged in activities that, when things go wrong, succumb to gravity at high speed, are most at risk. Scrapes primarily affect bony areas, such as the hands, forearms, elbows, knees, or shins. And due to the ample blood supply to the head or face, scrapes may often appear worse than they are, and bleed a lot as a result. These types of injuries are usually more painful than cuts because scrapes tear a larger area of skin and expose more nerve endings. Wherever the wound occurs, taking good care of your skin immediately after suffering a skin abrasion is paramount.

First Aid

After an injury, it's best to stop any bleeding, as well as first evaluate the injury to determine whether any nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, bones, or internal organs have been injured. If so, emergency medical attention may be required. However, if the injury is road rash, here's what you need to do immediately to minimize further pain and scarring: Clean the wound as soon as possible using an anti-bacterial soap. Showering is recommended, as running water will help flush out dirt and grit. If you can't get to a shower right away, at the very least attempt to flush the exposed area with water. You should then dab the wound with an anti-bacteria solution and cover the wound with a non-stick telfa pad coated with antibacterial ointment to prevent infection and scabbing.

First Defense from Brave Soldier is a great product to use immediately after an encounter with the road. First Defense cleanses and debris with a powerful yet soothing antiseptic wash that doesn't sting. The wound can then be showered clean when you get home. Keep in mind that you don't have to attempt to scrub out every last piece of grit or dirt in the wound, in fact most of the grit will "float" out of the wound on its own if a moist dressing is used. It will also help to put an ice bag on the wound after it has been covered in order to reduce swelling.

Another great product is Brave Soldier's Antiseptic Healing Ointment which was formulated specifically to speed the healing of road rash. A unique blend of healing botanicals and powerful pharmaceuticals helps wounds heal up to 40% faster and greatly reduces the chance of scarring.

Healing

The way a scrape heals depends on the depth, size, and location of the scrape. Whether a scrape heals with or without a scab does not affect the healing time or the amount of scarring. When the outer layers of skin are lost, new skin will form in the bottom of the wound. The wound basically heals from the bottom up. These kinds of abrasions look pink and raw at first, but as they heal, the new skin appears yellowish (which may be confused with pus).

On the other hand, when a scrape removes all of the skin layers, new skin will form on the edges of the wound, and the wound will heal from the edges in towards the middle. This type of scrape looks white at first, and fat cells may be visible. This type of wound typically takes longer to heal. Some scrapes form a scab during the healing process. A well-formed scab protects the scrape from additional injury and infection. Once a scab is formed, the scraped area usually remains dry and does not ooze fluid. A scab that forms over an area that moves, such as a joint, may crack and a few drops of clear yellowish to pinkish fluid may ooze from the wound. A cracked scab may be uncomfortable and may be susceptible to infection. Scabs usually decrease in size and fall off as the new skin under the scab is formed.

Unfortunately, during healing, a scab may accidentally get rubbed off, which causes the wound to start bleeding again. If this happens, treat the wound and protect the area so the healing process can begin again. Some scrapes heal without a scab. While it heals the abrasion may remain moist and pink, as well as ooze fluid or small amounts of blood. Over time, the area will turn pink and shiny as the new skin forms. This usually occurs when it's kept covered with a bandage and is washed regularly with soap and water to remove the scab-forming tissue. If a scrape is likely to get dirty or infected, or if it is not forming a scab, it is better to bandage the scrape and allow it to heal without a scab.

This healing process requires more treatment, such as washing off the scab-forming tissue and bandaging the scrape regularly. Hopefully you now have a slightly greater understanding of the dreaded road rash, and how best to deal with one. Knowing what to expect, and how to best handle a skin abrasion, should afford you a greater confidence in pursuing the very activities that can cause them. No pain, no gain. But you already knew that.