Road rash is a common injury that occurs when bare skin comes into contact with the pavement. This may happen in an accident like a car crash or a sports accident where the skin comes into direct contact with a rough surface.
Most of the time, a road rash injury will be a surface-level friction burn that is painful but can be treated at home. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may need medical treatment to help it heal properly.
Symptoms of a first-degree road rash include pain, redness, and bleeding. You may be able to treat this injury with home care, such as using antibacterial ointment and applying vitamin E oil to promote healing.
Second-Degree Road Rashes: This type of injury involves a deep wound that includes bleeding, heat radiation, and exposed muscles, tendons, or nerves. You may also have scars from the injury.
Third-Degree Road Rashes: This is the most severe type of road rash and can be very painful to the touch. It can also result in severe scarring and deformity.
Because road rash leaves a large surface area open to infection, it is important to treat the injury as soon as possible. If left untreated, it can lead to bacterial infections that can be deadly.
In rare cases, road rash can also cause blood poisoning, which is a serious infection that spreads through the bloodstream. Severe cases can lead to septic shock, which is a life-threatening condition that causes dangerously low blood pressure and organ failure.
