Abrasions
General or Other | - Others | Abrasions (Disease)
Description
Also called a graze, abrasion is a wound on the skin surface that is caused by scraping or rubbing. An abrasion or excoriation is a wearing away of the upper layer of skin as a result of applied friction force.
Causes and risk factors
In dermatology, an abrasion is a wound caused by superficial damage to the skin, no deeper than the epidermis. It is less severe than a laceration, and bleeding, if present, is minimal. Mild abrasions, also known as grazes or scrapes, do not scar or bleed, but deep abrasions may lead to the formation of scar tissue. A more traumatic abrasion that removes all layers of skin is called an avulsion.
Abrasion injuries most commonly occur when exposed skin comes into moving contact with a rough surface, causing a grinding or rubbing away of the upper layers of the epidermis.
Abrasion is also the loss of tooth structure by mechanical forces from a foreign element, or is the wearing away of tooth enamel, often accompanied by the erosion of dentine (the layer beneath the enamel) and cementum (the bone-like tissue that covers the tooth root), usually through too-vigorous brushing. Abraded areas are often sensitive to cold or hot food or drink, and a desensitizing toothpaste and/or protection with a bonding agent or filling, dental may be needed.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Treatment involves modification of oral hygiene, cavities restoring and for severe abrasion which involves pulp of the tooth, root canal treatment may be needed. Treatment of the skin abrasion includes cleaning, removing debris and topical antibiotic applied to prevent infection and to keep the wound moist. ...