XYLAZINE WOUND CARE GUIDE:
PUBLISHED ON 02/29/24
Healing with Dignity and Safety Understanding the Wound
At injection sites, Xylazine wounds may look like burns, scrapes, or pimples, but they can also appear in other places on the body, far away from where you inject! Commonly found on your arms and legs, they quickly get progressively worse, leading to dying (necrotic) skin and tissue and deep, weeping wounds. They might look different on darker skin but still have the same deep pain when they start to develop.
Progression and Challenges Initially resembling pressure ulcers, these wounds are very painful and open rapidly. The development of the wounds varies. They may last weeks, months, or even years, appearing as chronic dry dark scabs that fall off and reopen. For people without housing or access to clean running water, it can be tough to manage these large, draining wounds. Try to avoid dressings sticking to wounds by keeping the wound moist but not wet. A&D ointment can help with this. This will help dead skin fall off and allow healthy skin to regrow.
Healing with Care Xylazine wounds should be kept • Clean with soap and water. Using alcohol and peroxide is NOT suggested for these wounds. • Moisturized with antibacterial ointment, A&D, or even a thin layer of vaseline • Covered with clean bandages • Manuka honey (Medihoney) has been found to be very useful and effective for it’s wound healing and antibacterial properties
Effective Dressing Layers The best first layer is a non-sticky bandage like Xeroform, or Tegaderm applied to the wound. This protects your wounds from infections and helps prevent the other dressings from sticking. A second layer, like gauze, absorbs excess fluid, promoting a clean and moist environment that will help your body heal. A third layer, like Coban or an ace bandage, provides support and protection to the wound, securing your other dressings and minimizing the risk of infection.
Debunk the Myths • • • • •
Xylazine wounds are not contagious These wounds can appear away from where you inject Not everyone with a xylazine associated wounds will lose a limb They don’t all require antibiotics or surgical interventions Xylazine is not “flesh-eating”
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