A wound that's healing can produce a clear or pink fluid. An infected wound can produce a yellowish, bad-smelling fluid called pus. When fluid seeps from a wound, it is called wound drainage.
Purulent drainage: Purulent drainage, the thickest of the three types, is white, yellow or brown fluid. It indicates that bacteria entered your wound and caused an infection. Infections can be harmful to your body, so this fluid needs treatment.
Drainage can be (1) serous (clear and thin; may be present in a healthy, healing wound), (2) serosanguineous (containing blood; may also be present in a healthy, healing wound), (3) sanguineous (primarily blood), or (4) purulent (thick, white, and pus-like; may be indicative of infection and should be cultured).
As the wound begins to dry, a crust starts to form in the outer layer. If the crust is yellowish and if there is a formation of pimples on or near the wound, it could be septic. Sores that look like blisters. If there is a formation of sores which look like pockets of fluid around the area, they could be septic.
Wounds need to be covered so that they can heal properly. When a wound is left uncovered, the new surface cells that are being created can easily dry out. When these important cells dry out, it tends to slow down the healing process. A wound should be covered using a clean bandage.
Normal wound drainage involves the serosanguineous discharge of thin, watery fluids that may be clear or contain tiny amounts of blood. Abnormal wound drainage is when the discharge is thick, bloody, or has a milky white, yellow, green, gray, or brown color (often with a foul smell).
Enzymatic Debridement: Apply proteolytic enzymes (e.g., collagenase) to selectively remove slough. Surgical Debridement: For extensive slough, surgical removal may be necessary. Mechanical Debridement: Use wet-to-dry dressings or hydrotherapy to lift off the slough mechanically.
A yellow wound can indicate improper healing
Greenish-yellow tissue is a form of necrotic tissue—skin that has died and is beginning to break down. Necrotic tissue is a serious wound development, and suggests your wound is stuck in a prolonged inflammatory phase.
The most common is a triple antibiotic. Bacitracin is a single antibiotic ointment. POLYSPORIN® is the #1 dermatologist recommended for infection protection. NEOSPORIN® is the #1 doctor recommended for infection protection.
Weeping eczema happens when your skin has eczema sores or blisters that leak clear or yellowish fluid. It's a common problem among people with eczema. Any type of eczema can become inflamed and weep, and your symptoms can depend on what type of eczema you have.
Skin cleansing: Proceed from the wound edges outward, wiping in concentric circles with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine solution followed by alcohol solution.Do not introduce a cleansing agent directly into the wound because many are toxic to tissues and may interfere with wound healing.
Q: What colour pus is bad? A: Pus is a protein-rich fluid known as liquor puris, which is accumulated at the site of infection. While whitish-yellow pus is normal, pus with the colour yellow, green or brown along with a foul smell can be a sign of infection.
Purulent discharge, which is a thick, white, yellow, or brown fluid coming from the wound, is a sign of infection and should not be ignored. Along with the discharge, you may have symptoms such as fever, pain, redness, or swelling around the wound.
Slough is present only in stage 3 pressure injuries and higher. Slough may be present in other types of wounds such as vascular, diabetic, among others. You are most likely not seeing a biofilm. Biofilms may be present, especially in chronic wounds, but they are usually not visible to the naked eye.
The presence of slough can harbor bacteria, leading to infection and further complications. It can also prevent the formation of new, healthy tissue, delaying healing.
Purulent Wound Drainage
Exudate that becomes a thick, milky liquid or a thick liquid that turns yellow, tan, gray, green, or brown is almost always a sign that infection is present. This drainage contains white blood cells, dead bacteria, wound debris, and inflammatory cells.
If you have a weeping wound, it's important to absorb the excess fluid without drying it out and apply an appropriate wound dressing. Always see a doctor if the wound is deep, bleeds heavily or shows signs of infection like reddening, swelling or warmth.
The color of the fluid usually begins as cranberry (blood tinged) and as the days after surgery go by, the color becomes pink or yellow. The more active you are, the more fluid will be produced. Sometimes increased activity can cause the color of the fluid to become cranberry after it has been yellow.
Small cuts and scrapes can be left uncovered, but moisture is usually needed to help speed up the healing process. Apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) and cover with an adhesive bandage any exposed wounds that might become dirty on the hands, feet, arms or legs.
Wounds heal faster if they are kept warm. Try to be quick when changing dressings. Exposing a wound to the open air can drop its temperature and may slow healing for a few hours. Don't use antiseptic creams, washes or sprays on a chronic wound.
Promote Wound Healing with Good Nutrition
Choose vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C, such as broccoli or strawberries. For adequate zinc, choose fortified grains and protein foods, such as beef, chicken, seafood or beans. Some wounds may require a higher intake of certain vitamins and minerals to support healing.