Help treating a graze

[Savemyface]

After a bit of a nasty tumble im now sporting a rather large, ugly graze to my face.
I’ve been washing it (washed 3times in 24hrs) and letting it air dry, some bits look deep but not bleeding. It’s nipping like mad and feels a bit hot. Been icing it on and off.
Is there anything I could/should be doing to get it to heal ASAP or just leave it alone?

Can you get to a pharmacy and buy a dressing like opsite or duoderm. Keeping it covered will speed healing. Washing it was good, but not too often! If it gets infected you will feel pain and throbbing/see more gunk but the stinging now will be relieved by keeping it covered

I would get it covered while it starts to heal then after a few days you can let air get to it. Try not to keep washing it as you will be washing away the blood clots which seal the cut bits and help prevent infection.

We have Aussie relatives and when they visit we always get them to bring solosite gel. It would work s trest on your graze. It's £20 a tube on Amazon though. But I just looked it up for you and found this gel instead that's cheaper, on prime and looks very similar.

Other options are using Manuka honey on it.

But really, you should see a pharmacist or nurse.

Hope it heals fast

Stop icing it and stop washing it. Icing will reduce blood flow and all the associated healing factors - you may end up giving yourself an ice burn as well.

You can cover it whilst you're out and about with an appropriate pharmacist-directed dressing. Otherwise keep it uncovered and dry. Keep an eye on it, any increase in redness/heat of it, or increase in pain then get it looked at.

Thanks all. It covers the whole side of my face so I havent covered as nothing big enough! Only iced it for short periods of time to try and bring swelling down, once when it happened and once tonight as face was aching. I’ll nip to pharmacy tomorrow for some further advice.

Thanks for the link @NoStraightEdges of pharmacist allows I’ll get some to try.

Savlon now do a wound healing gel for grazes, but if it's half your face then getting a pharmacist's opinion is probably for the best.

A pharmacist (sorry to bang on) will have dressings big enough and will sell them individually to you. Mepilex is a really soft one and you can cut it to fit (round your nose or whatever).

I'd savlon it, and cover with a gauze fastened loosley with surgical tape

I’d leave it to air dry.

After a particularly spectacular drunken fall last Christmas I know this to be the best way. Don’t pick any of it.

Thanks @NoStraightEdges I’ll gonthd the pharmacy first thing.
@idontlikealdi the no picking is going to be a killer, I’m a nightmare normally but the size of this will stop me picking, I’m ugly enough!
Thankfully it’s too sore to touch just now unless I have to (cleaning) and the I psych myself up for it!
It’s bloody agony just now so doubt I’ll be sleeping much. I’m such an idiot

Getting the air to it is an unhelpful old wives tale - wounds heal best in a clean moist environment or under a dressing. HCP here.

How is it today savemyface?

Pharmacist took one look and sent me to minor injuries! No breaks just awful swelling (proper black eye and face like a football!) and grazing. They cleaned it up again and put a see through dressing on to protect it and help slough off some of the scabbing, to change the dressing after 3days and see how it goes. They also have me other dressings, they were very helpful & kind.
Thank you for asking.

Ah, you poor thing. Glad you got it looked at though.

I've heard that wine helps!