Your skin is your body’s first line of defense – it prevents germs from entering your body.
But having a wound – no matter how small – increases the chance for infection because it provides an entrance for germs.
When your body faces too many germs to fight off, it’s considered an infection – which are not only dangerous, they can slow down the healing of your wound.
The center for Disease Control and Prevention note that handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infection – though many people don’t do it properly.
Follow these steps when caring for a wound – or any time – to prevent the spread of illness and infection.