How to Bandage a Skin Rash

You can develop a skin rash from an allergic reaction, exposure to harmful plants or chemicals or even a physical trauma to the area, commonly referred to as road rash. Road rash is type of wound sustained from a fall or other accident where the skin is badly scraped on the surface. Unlike rashes that must breathe to heal, road rash needs to be bandaged. Doing so will help the rash heal qmore quickly by preventing infection and protecting the area from further trauma.

Things You'll Need

• Latex gloves
• Water or saline solution
• Topical treatment
• Wound dressing
• Adhesive tape

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Instructions

• 1

  Put on a pair of latex gloves and irrigate the wound using a saline solution or regular tap water if saline is not available. Pour water over the wound to remove any debris and cleanse the area of other surface irritants.

• 2

  Unwrap a piece of sterile gauze and gently dab the area to remove the water left over from the irrigation.

• 3

  Apply a topical treatment to the area to help reduce any pain or swelling in the area. For road rash, use products like Neosporin, Silvadene or Thermazene. Neosporin is an over-the-counter topical treatment that will reduce pain and prevent infection. Silvadene and Thermazene are antibiotic creams that require a doctor's prescription but are very effective at preventing infection.

• 4

  Unwrap a piece of wound dressing that is larger than the road rash, and apply it to the affected area. The dressing should overlap the rash by at least ¼ inch on all sides. Because road rash is very sensitive, use a product similar to Second Skin that will not stick to the exposed flesh of the wound.

• 5

  Secure the dressing in place with adhesive tape that allows the skin to breathe. Apply long strips to hold the dressing in place, or wrap the tape around the dressing to secure it.