Honey For Healing Wounds?

[Ann]

OH has had some dry skin down the edge of his foot just down from his little toe nail. There is now a deep cut which has appeared which is very sore when he walks. I have suggested he treats it with a healing cream and to put a plaster over it. All I have in the house is Savlon, Sudocrem or Manuka honey which I know was used for healing wounds many years ago - which do you think I should use please?

[shaneystar2]

I used Manuka honey on ulcers which I had on my leg from cellulitis .
It cleared them up .You can but give it a try Ann.

[Goodsoulette]

i think you need to use special medical grade honey. We use activon at work or honey impregnated dressings. To me it sounds like his feet are incredibly dry, He needs to soak them nightly, helps debride them and moisturise them thoroughly. Wrap his feet in clingfilm for a little bit if needs be before he goes to bed.

[China Doll]

My friend gave me some as I kept getting this reocurring boil thing right behind my ear in exactly the same place for no reason I could every understand... Not had it since. A lady I work with swears by it but says there's different concentrations.

[NOX]

My ex used honey to clear up her palmer plantar psoriasis which was terrible ( really open wounds on her soles and palms) and they'd tried every horrible steroid cream known to man and some nasty drugs too. 3 weeks and it was more or less gone and doesn't really recur now.

[Buenchico]

When I did my first aid training, the instructors (a nurse and a doctor) both stated that they wished that the sale of products such as Savlon could be banned, as antiseptic ointments actually inhibit the growth of healthy flesh. Their advice was that wounds should be kept clean through the use of a dressing (or sticking plaster) but that nothing else should be put on them.

[Ann]

This is Manuka honey from Holland & Barrett £12 for 500g jar, si its not cheap.

[Goodsoulette]

oh and sudocrem is not really very good, especially not in large quantities and can often cause infections, plus it stings an awful lot on open skin. Savlon sounds like your best bet, but sand down the dry skin first then soak, cream and cover with clingfilm if you have it.

[Ann]

Nox - That sounds similar to my husbands skin, thanks I will give the honey a go then. Thanks everyone!

[Sparkles62]

Honey very good, especially manuka honey. the other thing would be to drop a drop of pure lavender oil into the cut, just one drop. its wonderful, the strongest natural antiseptic, and he needs to moisturise his feet to stop it cracking up again.

[Goodsoulette]

To be honest buenchico I think that's probably down to poor usage, lots of creams are very good at doing the job when used properly. Out of her list there Savlon is going to have the most moisture in it and going to do the best job for her partners problem. Unless Ann will kindly hand over some nivea (honey sucks moisture out, so unless his foot looks sloughy leave it well alone)

[237SJ]

I don`t think it needs anything. It just needs cleaning and a decent dry dressing put on. He might want to put some sort of wound closure strip on first because the wound might be splitting open due to the pressure of his weight when he walks.

[Ann]

Goodsoul, Yes I do use Nivea, but its not antiseptic is it? I thought if the cut healed first, then he could moisturise his feet with a good foot cream or Nivea body lotion etc. This is all alien to him LOL, he doesn't use a moisuriser on his face or feet, I'm sure he thinks its a "woman" thing!!

[Ann]

Just remembered - I do have some tea tree oil. What about that?

[shaneystar2]

The best thing is for him to rub Vaseline well into his feet put and put some socks on when he goes to bed .After a few nights of that his feet will be as smooth and soft as a babies bum !

[starone]

Vitamin E is very good too. I have cut off the end of a capsule and squeezed out the oil and it really seems to help.

[Sparkles62]

Tea tree is very good, its what they recommend when you have a piercing ie belly button piercing etc, to stop any infection.

[TheHangman]

Calendula cream or bathe with a solution of simmered marigold flowers. simmer a handful in water for a few minutes then bathe with the water.

[Ann]

All this advice could help my poor friend too, she really suffers during the Winter months with deep cracks which break open at the end of her fingers. It is very sore and looks awful.

[237SJ]

By the way, is it actually a cut or a split which has formed in an area of hard skin?

[Goodsoulette]

if the crack is that deep you'll need something like betadine.... tea tree will sting him a lot lol if you dont like him much, knock yourself out. I think you might be obsessing a little over the antiseptic properties. He needs a bloody good moisturising session. Get him some diprobase in the week and make him use it twice a day forever.