Wounds, skin injuries and healing
These instructions are intended for the practical use of Smrekovit products for wounds, skin injuries and healing. They cover acute and chronic wounds, pressure sores, abrasions, cuts and lacerations, surgical wounds, diabetic foot and burns.
For open wounds, the most important thing is proper and as simple as possible wound care. Below are specific instructions for choosing the product, preparing the dressing, changing the gauze, monitoring progress and the particular considerations for different types of wounds.
With chronic wounds, in addition to the wound itself, it is also necessary to take into account factors that can significantly slow healing, especially diabetes, impaired circulation and pronounced swelling or oedema.
Read more about the causes of slow healing of chronic leg wounds and documented practical cases in the article Open wound on the leg: healing process.
Wounds, skin injuries and healing – at a glance
- For open and chronic wounds, we recommend Smrekovit Klasik on sterile non-woven gauze.
- Apply Smrekovit Klasik to the gauze in a layer approximately 2 mm thick, and the gauze should extend about 2 cm beyond the edges of the wound or the reddened surrounding area.
- When changing the dressing, a simple rule generally applies: old gauze off, new gauze on. If the wound is not dirty, there is no need to rinse, disinfect or scrub it again at every dressing change.
- Always use sterile non-woven gauze. For a wound with little discharge, change it usually once a day; for heavier discharge, change it more often.
- Before first use on a chronic wound, we recommend a four-day test of Smrekovit Klasik on healthy skin.
- For most wounds, we expect a clear change within about one week. The most important signs of progress are closure of the wound from the edges and decreasing redness.
- A yellowish or whitish moist layer is often fibrin, not pus. Do not scrub the wound or forcibly remove the layer solely because of its appearance.
- With chronic wounds, pay particular attention to pronounced swelling and fluid leakage, as oedema can significantly slow healing.
- For thermal burns, based on our practical experience, we recommend using Smrekovit Klasik as soon as possible; for sunburn, you can use Smrekovit 365 Prima or Klasik.
- For more demanding and chronic wounds, we also offer personal remote monitoring of progress using photographs.
General instructions for wounds and skin injuries
Based on our practical experience, a simple and consistent approach works best for wounds. As a rule, the wound does not need to be intensively cleaned, disinfected or scrubbed at every dressing change, nor is it necessary to apply several different preparations to it.
For open and chronic wounds, we primarily recommend Smrekovit Klasik on sterile non-woven gauze. For smaller superficial skin injuries, you can also use Smrekovit 365 Prima.
Basic care of an open wound
- Apply Smrekovit Klasik to sterile non-woven gauze in a layer approximately 2 mm thick – similar to margarine on bread.
- The gauze should extend approximately 2 cm beyond the edges of the wound or beyond the entire reddened area.
- Place the gauze on the wound with the coated side facing down and secure it appropriately.
- For a dry wound or one with little discharge, change it generally once a day. If there is a lot of discharge and the gauze becomes soaked, change it more often.
The easiest way to spread Smrekovit Klasik evenly on the gauze is with a blunt knife or a similar clean tool. Disinfect the tool before use.
Always use non-woven gauze
For open wounds, we recommend sterile non-woven gauze. Woven gauze has individual threads that can stick to or cut into newly forming tissue and unnecessarily make dressing changes more difficult.
If Smrekovit Klasik is applied in a sufficiently thick layer, the gauze generally does not stick to the wound. When changing the dressing, a very simple practical rule therefore applies: old gauze off, new gauze on.
The wound generally does not need to be cleaned at every dressing change
If there is no sand, foreign material or other obvious dirt in the wound, based on our practical experience it generally does not need to be rinsed, disinfected or scrubbed between dressing changes. This also applies to routine rinsing with saline solution.
If the wound is dirty when it occurs, of course first remove sand, foreign material and visible dirt. During subsequent dressing changes, however, avoid unnecessary manipulation of the wound itself.
We do not recommend using several different preparations on the wound itself at the same time. If you use Smrekovit Klasik, as a rule this should be the only product directly on the wound surface.
Check the skin response before use on a chronic wound
If you have not used Smrekovit products before and the wound is larger or chronic, we recommend applying Smrekovit Klasik to a small area of healthy skin for four days before first use.
If pronounced redness, itching or irritation occurs, do not use the product on the open wound.
How can you tell whether the wound is progressing?
For most wounds, based on our practical experience, a significant difference is visible within about one week. The two most important signs of progress are:
- the wound begins to close from the edges,
- redness around the wound decreases.
For chronic and more slowly changing wounds, we recommend photographing the wound approximately once a week, always from a similar distance and in similar lighting. This makes progress much easier to assess than by observing it every day.
A yellowish layer is not necessarily pus
A yellowish or whitish moist layer on the surface of the wound is often fibrin rather than pus. Fibrin generally does not need to be mechanically removed simply because it makes the wound look yellowish.
A more concerning sign is foul-smelling purulent discharge, especially if redness, pain or swelling are spreading at the same time or the general condition is worsening.
Swelling can significantly slow healing
With chronic wounds, it is also important to monitor the area around the wound. Pronounced oedema or swelling and heavy fluid leakage can significantly slow healing, even if the local wound care itself is appropriate.
This is particularly important with long-lasting wounds on the legs and in people with conditions that affect circulation, swelling or healing.
When is a medical examination necessary?
We particularly recommend a medical examination if redness is spreading outwards, markedly foul-smelling pus appears, black or dead tissue is progressing, bone is visible deep in the wound, or the user’s general condition is worsening.
Particular caution is also required with diabetic foot, markedly impaired circulation and extensive chronic wounds, where local wound care represents only one part of the overall treatment.
Acute wounds, abrasions, cuts and lacerations
With fresh skin injuries, it is first important to assess how deep and extensive the wound is and whether there is dirt or a foreign body in it. Remove sand, soil, fragments and other obvious dirt before use.
Minor superficial injuries
For minor abrasions and superficial injuries, you can use Smrekovit 365 Prima or Smrekovit Klasik.
Apply the product directly to the injured area. If the area is exposed to rubbing, dirt or fluid is leaking from it, it is practical to cover it as well.
Open cuts and lacerations
If the skin is open, we primarily recommend Smrekovit Klasik on sterile non-woven gauze. Use the same dressing method as described in the general instructions for wounds: apply Klasik to the gauze in a layer approximately 2 mm thick, place the gauze on the wound with the coated side facing the wound and secure it appropriately.
For subsequent dressing changes, a simple rule applies: old gauze off, new gauze on. If the wound is not contaminated, there is no need to rinse, disinfect or scrub it again at every dressing change.
When is a minor wound no longer suitable for home care?
For a deep or widely gaping wound, heavy bleeding, a bite injury, a foreign body deep in the wound, or an injury that may require stitches or other professional treatment, we recommend a medical examination.
Also monitor the area around the wound. If redness spreads outwards after the initial period, markedly foul-smelling purulent discharge appears or the condition worsens, a medical examination is necessary.
Herpes on the lip and in the mouth
For external herpes on the lip or skin, we recommend Smrekovit 365 Prima, while for herpes in the mouth you can use Smrekovit oral spray.
Start at the first signs
Based on our practical experience, the most important thing with herpes is to act as early as possible. The best results are achieved when Smrekovit 365 Prima is applied at the first tingling, itching, tightness or burning sensation – before blisters develop.
Apply the product directly to the affected area several times a day. If you start early enough, based on our experience, the herpes often develops in a much milder form or its course is noticeably shortened.
A practical method for a longer-lasting application
You can apply a slightly thicker layer of Smrekovit 365 Prima to the herpes area and then briefly dry it with a hair dryer. This creates a more durable layer on the surface that stays in place longer.
For herpes in the mouth, use Smrekovit oral spray directly on the affected area several times a day.
Read more about the signs, course and early action in the article Cold sores: how to recognise them and what helps.
Chronic wounds and pressure sores
For chronic wounds and pressure sores, we recommend Smrekovit Klasik on sterile non-woven gauze. The basic dressing method is the same as for other open wounds and is described in more detail in the general instructions.
With a chronic wound, healing speed can vary greatly. What matters is not only local wound care, but also the factors that caused the wound to develop or make it difficult to heal.
Test on healthy skin before first use
If you have not used Smrekovit products before, we recommend applying Smrekovit Klasik to a small area of healthy skin for four days before using it on a chronic wound. If pronounced redness, itching or irritation occurs, do not use it on the open wound.
What can significantly slow healing?
Based on our practical experience, the most important factors that can slow the healing of a chronic wound include:
- diabetes,
- venous insufficiency,
- heart failure,
- pronounced oedema or swelling,
- impaired circulation.
Therefore, with a chronic wound, we are not interested only in its appearance. It is also important how long it has been present, whether the leg is markedly swollen and, above all, how much fluid from the wound or tissue soaks through the gauze and bandages.
Pay particular attention to pronounced swelling
If the gauze is constantly very wet, fluid soaks through the bandages or even the socks or footwear become wet, oedema may be one of the main reasons for slow healing. In such a case, simply changing the gauze more often or applying the ointment differently does not address the underlying problem.
Based on our practical experience, when oedema decreases, the conditions for wound healing often improve considerably as well. Managing oedema can therefore be just as important as the dressing itself for some chronic wounds.
How to monitor progress?
For most wounds, we expect at least a clear change to be visible within about one week. We are mainly interested in two signs:
- the wound begins to close from the edges,
- redness around the wound decreases.
For chronic wounds, we recommend photographing the wound approximately once a week, always from a similar distance, at a similar angle and in similar lighting. It is best to photograph it after removing the old dressing and before applying the new one.
Day-to-day changes can be so slow that they are difficult for the user to notice, while comparing photographs at weekly intervals often shows very clearly whether the wound is actually changing.
Personal remote monitoring of the wound
For more demanding and chronic wounds, we also offer personal remote monitoring of progress. You can send us photographs of the wound approximately once a week so that we can monitor the changes together and, if necessary, help you with the practical use of Smrekovit products.
Read more about chronic wounds on the legs, factors that affect healing and practical cases in the article Open wound on the leg: healing process.
If redness spreads outwards, markedly foul-smelling pus appears, black or dead tissue progresses, bone is visible or the general condition worsens, we recommend a medical examination.
Burns
For burns, based on our practical experience, the most important thing is to act immediately. For a thermal burn, we recommend applying Smrekovit Klasik to the affected area as soon as possible after the injury.
Thermal burns
Apply enough Smrekovit Klasik to sterile non-woven gauze so that the burned area is well covered with the ointment. Place the gauze with the coated side directly on the affected area and secure it appropriately.
With this type of use, the time between the burn occurring and the application of Smrekovit is particularly important. Based on our many years of practical experience, when Smrekovit Klasik is applied quickly enough, blisters often develop to a much lesser extent or do not develop at all.
What about cooling the burn?
Standard medical first-aid guidelines for thermal burns recommend cooling the burned area with running water. Our practical instructions for using Smrekovit Klasik differ from this.
Based on our practical experience with Smrekovit, we have found it more important that Smrekovit Klasik is applied to the burned area as soon as possible. Therefore, with this method of use, we do not recommend prior cooling, but advise immediately applying gauze with Smrekovit Klasik.
These are our practical experiences with the use of Smrekovit products. This method of use has not been clinically compared with standard cooling of burns, so we do not present it as a general medical first-aid recommendation.
When can you expect a change?
For burns, based on our practical experience, the results are generally rapid. If Smrekovit Klasik is applied early enough, the burning sensation and pain usually begin to decrease quickly, and the subsequent course of the burn is often considerably milder.
With timely use, based on our experience, blisters often develop to a lesser extent or do not develop at all. If blisters are already present when use begins, treat the burn as an open wound from then on.
If blisters have already developed
If blisters have already developed, you can still use Smrekovit Klasik, but from then on treat the injury similarly to an open wound.
Do not intentionally puncture the blisters. If a blister opens on its own and an open surface develops, apply Smrekovit Klasik to sterile non-woven gauze and follow the general wound care instructions.
When changing the dressing, avoid unnecessary rubbing, disinfection and removal of newly forming tissue. The main thing is to keep the affected area regularly covered with Smrekovit Klasik.
Sunburn
For sunburn, start using the product as soon as you notice pronounced redness or a burning sensation.
For moderate sunburn, we recommend Smrekovit 365 Prima or Smrekovit Klasik. Apply the product to the affected skin several times a day.
For very pronounced sunburn, you can also use Smrekovit Klasik on non-woven gauze or keep it on the affected area for a longer period, similarly to other superficial skin injuries.
When is a medical examination necessary?
Smrekovit instructions are intended primarily for minor thermal burns and sunburn. For more extensive or deep burns, burns to the face, hands, feet or genitals, and burns caused by electricity or chemicals, we recommend professional medical treatment.
We also recommend an examination if the condition worsens, redness spreads, foul-smelling discharge, fever or other signs of infection appear, or the wound does not progress in the expected direction.
If a more demanding open wound remains after blisters have developed, after appropriate medical assessment you can also send us photographs for personal remote monitoring of progress and assistance with the practical use of Smrekovit products.
Diabetic foot with an open wound
For an open wound on a diabetic foot, we recommend Smrekovit Klasik on sterile non-woven gauze. Prepare the dressing using the same method as for other open wounds, described in the general instructions.
With diabetic foot, particular caution is needed because due to reduced sensitivity in the foot, the wound may be considerably larger than the user would assume based on pain. This is why regular inspection of the foot and monitoring of the wound itself are important.
The dressing alone is not enough
In addition to local wound care, the following are particularly important for healing:
- offloading the wound area – minimising pressure and rubbing on the injured part of the foot,
- well-controlled diabetes,
- regular monitoring of the wound.
If the user continues to walk directly on the wound area or footwear constantly puts pressure on it, mechanical pressure can significantly interfere with healing. The method of offloading depends on the location and extent of the wound.
Expect slower healing with diabetic wounds
Based on our practical experience, wounds in people with diabetes often heal more slowly. This alone does not mean that the local wound care is inappropriate. It is more important to monitor whether the wound begins to close from the edges, whether redness decreases and whether the condition is actually improving over time.
We recommend photographing the wound approximately once a week, always from a similar distance and in similar lighting. This makes progress much easier to assess.
Personal remote monitoring
For diabetic and other more demanding wounds, we also offer personal remote monitoring of progress. You can send us photographs approximately once a week so that we can monitor the changes together and, if necessary, help you with the practical use of Smrekovit products.
Read more about factors that affect the healing of leg wounds and practical cases in the article Open wound on the leg: healing process.
A diabetic wound should also be monitored by a healthcare professional
Do not manage an open wound on a diabetic foot only at home. Use Smrekovit as part of the wound care, but the condition should also be assessed or monitored by a doctor or another healthcare professional specifically trained in diabetic foot care.
If redness spreads, swelling develops, foul-smelling discharge appears, necrosis progresses, fever occurs or the general condition worsens, prompt medical attention is required.
Surgical wounds and the condition after nail removal
Based on our practical experience, Smrekovit Klasik can also be used for wounds after surgical procedures. It can be used immediately after the procedure, after removal of stitches or later, depending on the condition of the wound and the method of wound care.
If the wound is open, follow the same basic procedure as for other wounds: apply Smrekovit Klasik to sterile non-woven gauze and place it on the wound with the coated side facing the wound. The procedure is described in more detail in the general instructions for wounds.
After nail removal
We have particularly good practical experience with the use of Smrekovit Klasik after surgical nail removal.
Using a disinfected blunt tool, apply Smrekovit Klasik to sterile non-woven gauze and place it directly on the exposed nail bed. As a rule, change the dressing once a day.
Based on our practical experience, this type of recovery is often surprisingly minimally painful. Users often describe considerably less discomfort than they expected after nail removal.
If the nail was removed because of an ingrown nail, it is important to distinguish between two things: Smrekovit is used for care of the resulting wound, while the underlying reason for the ingrown nail is a separate problem and may require further surgical treatment.
If stitches are present
With a fresh surgical wound with stitches, also follow the instructions of the healthcare professional who performed the procedure regarding dressing changes and stitch removal. Based on our experience, Smrekovit can also be used during this period, but the method of use should be adapted to the type of procedure and the condition of the wound.
If redness spreads, the wound opens, foul-smelling discharge, pronounced swelling or fever develops, or the condition worsens after the procedure, we recommend an examination by the healthcare professional who performed the procedure or by a doctor.
Scars after wounds and injuries
When monitoring wound healing, we do not only look at whether the wound closes, but also at how the tissue regenerates after healing.
Based on our practical observations, scars after wounds that we monitored while using Smrekovit Klasik were often surprisingly subtle. Even with some more extensive injuries, we observed very good skin regeneration.
In individual cases, we also observed the reformation of natural skin structures in areas where the skin had previously been severely damaged. These are practical observations and not systematically researched results, so it is not possible to predict in advance what kind of scar will develop from a particular wound.
The most important thing is care during the healing process itself
Our approach is therefore not focused primarily on treating an already formed scar afterwards, but on appropriate wound care throughout the entire healing process. As long as the wound remains open, continue using Smrekovit Klasik on sterile non-woven gauze according to the general instructions for wounds.
Once the wound is completely closed, based on our practical experience we do not specify a universal protocol for continued application to the scar.
Combining Smrekovit with other wound-care products
With chronic and more demanding wounds, users are often already using silver dressings, honey dressings or other products and procedures. Starting to use Smrekovit does not necessarily mean that all of these procedures must be stopped immediately.
However, our basic practical rule is important: if you use Smrekovit Klasik on the wound itself, Smrekovit Klasik should be the only product directly on the wound surface.
We therefore do not recommend applying several different ointments, creams, disinfectants or other local preparations to the wound at the same time. This makes the wound care clearer and also makes it easier to assess how the wound is actually responding.
If you are switching from another wound-care method
If the wound was previously treated with another dressing system, you can adjust the wound-care method gradually. Once you start using Smrekovit Klasik on the wound itself, continue according to the basic dressing protocol: Klasik on sterile non-woven gauze, coated side on the wound and regular dressing changes.
For more demanding chronic wounds, we can also personally monitor progress remotely using photographs, especially when the user is unsure how to switch from the previous wound-care method to using Smrekovit Klasik.
How to assess a wound: fibrin, pus, necrosis, redness and pain
The appearance of a wound changes during healing, and no single sign on its own tells us whether the wound is healing well or poorly. Based on our practical experience, it is more important to monitor changes over time than to assess the wound only by its current appearance.
The best signs of progress are that the wound begins to close from the edges and that redness in the surrounding area decreases. For most wounds, we expect at least a clear change to be noticeable within about one week.
Fibrin is not the same as pus
A yellowish or whitish, moist layer on the surface of the wound is often fibrin. Users very often mistake it for pus and, because of its appearance, assume that the wound is infected.
Based on our practical experience, fibrin does not need to be removed simply because it is present. Therefore, do not scrub or mechanically clean the wound solely to remove a yellowish or whitish layer.
If you are not sure whether it is fibrin, pus or another type of tissue, professional assessment is more appropriate for a more demanding wound, or you can send us a photograph for personal remote monitoring.
How to recognise more concerning pus?
With true purulent discharge, what concerns us more than the colour itself is primarily an unpleasant or pronounced odour and other signs that the wound is worsening.
Pay particular attention if at the same time:
- redness spreads around the wound,
- swelling or warmth of the surrounding area increases,
- pain increases markedly,
- fever or a worsening general condition develops.
This combination of signs may indicate an infection and requires medical assessment.
Necrosis
Necrotic or dead tissue is often black, dark brown and drier. With this type of wound, we are not interested only in the colour, but especially in how deep the affected area is, whether it is progressing and whether deeper tissues are involved.
If the area of necrosis is increasing, the wound is deep, or bone is visible or may be involved, we recommend medical or professional wound care.
Do not remove necrotic tissue yourself. A healthcare professional should decide whether and how it should be removed based on the condition of the wound.
Redness is one of the best indicators of progress
Based on our practical experience, decreasing redness is a very good sign. Even if the wound is still large or unpleasant in appearance, a reduction in the reddened area usually indicates that the condition is progressing in the right direction.
In contrast, redness spreading outwards is a warning sign. Take particular notice of redness spreading from the wound as a line or streak along the limb, as this requires a medical examination.
Pain alone does not necessarily mean that the wound is getting worse
During healing, throbbing or pulling pains may also occur. Based on our practical experience, pain on its own is not necessarily a bad sign if the wound is simultaneously closing from the edges and the redness is decreasing.
It is more concerning if the pain becomes progressively stronger and is accompanied by spreading redness, swelling, warmth, purulent discharge or fever.
Do not assess the wound only from day to day
With more slowly healing wounds, the daily change may be so small that it is difficult to notice. We therefore recommend photographing the wound approximately once a week, always from a similar distance, at a similar angle and in similar lighting.
For more demanding and chronic wounds, you can also send us photographs for personal remote monitoring of progress. This makes it considerably easier to assess the direction in which the wound is developing than from a telephone description alone.
About these instructions
These instructions are based primarily on many years of practical experience using Smrekovit products, user feedback and knowledge gained through the development and use of the products.
Where we describe specific methods of use, product selection, the expected course or other practical details, these are based primarily on our practical experience. This is not equivalent to the results of clinical research and does not guarantee that every user will respond in the same way.
Where necessary, we verify and supplement general information about individual problems using professional sources. Where these are important for understanding the content, we cite them on the page.
We regularly supplement and update the instructions based on new experience, user feedback and available professional knowledge.