From the Research
Road rash treatment should prioritize gentle cleaning, moisturizing, and protection of the wound, with the most recent evidence suggesting the use of petrolatum-based ointments like Aquaphor Healing Ointment as an effective alternative to antibiotic ointments for promoting wound healing and reducing the risk of infection 1, 2. When treating road rash, it's essential to begin with gentle cleaning of the wound using mild soap and water to remove dirt, debris, and bacteria that could cause infection.
- After cleaning, apply a petrolatum-based ointment like Aquaphor Healing Ointment to keep the wound moist and promote healing.
- Cover the area with a non-stick sterile dressing such as Telfa pads, and secure with medical tape or rolled gauze.
- Change the dressing daily or whenever it becomes wet or dirty.
- For pain management, over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650mg every 6 hours or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) 400-600mg every 6 hours can be used as needed.
- Keep the wound covered until a scab forms, then you can leave it uncovered to air dry.
- Watch for signs of infection including increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or fever, which require medical attention.
- Deeper road rash with extensive skin loss, embedded debris, or wounds on the face may require professional medical care for proper cleaning, debridement, and possibly stitches.
- In severe cases, autologous skin cell suspension devices like ReCell® may be considered as an independent treatment modality for pain and skin injury secondary to severe road rash 3. The use of topical antibiotics may not be necessary for wound healing and may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance and allergic contact dermatitis 1, 2, 4.
- A study comparing the wound healing properties of Aquaphor Healing Ointment, Neosporin, and Polysporin found that Aquaphor Healing Ointment demonstrated faster and more effective improvements in wound healing parameters compared to antibiotic-containing treatments 2.
- Another study found that topical antibiotics probably reduce the risk of surgical site infection in people with surgical wounds healing by primary intention compared to no topical antibiotic or topical antiseptics, but the evidence for adverse outcomes such as allergic contact dermatitis is unclear due to lack of statistical power 4.