Article: If the skin flap is still attached to the skin tear, use a damp cotton tip to gently ease it back into place. You can also use tweezers or a gloved finger to do this. This will help the skin tear to heal properly. Petroleum jelly gauze is a good option for skin tears as it will protect it and keep it moist so it can heal. Petroleum jelly gauze comes in strips. Use scissors to cut the gauze to fit the area. Then, apply the gauze over the skin tear, leaving a one-inch border around the skin tear. You can get petroleum jelly gauze online or at your local drugstore. Kerlix bandages are made of thick gauze. They will help to protect the skin tear and keep it moist. Use paper tape to the bandage to keep the gauze in place. Make sure you only apply tape to the gauze, not to the skin. You will need to change out the Kerlix bandage every one to two hours to ensure it does not dry to the skin tear. Change the bandages on the skin tear once to twice a day. Soak the bandages in saline solution to make removing them easier, especially if they have an adhesive. Lift the bandages off and away from the direction of the attached skin flap. Clean the skin tear with water before you apply a new bandage. You should also check the skin tear for any signs of infection, such as swelling, odor, pus, or heat coming from the skin tear. If you suspect the skin tear is infected, or it does not appear to be getting better, see a doctor.
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Tuck the skin flap over the skin tear, if possible. Use petroleum jelly gauze. Wrap the area with a Kerlix bandage. Replace the bandages regularly.