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This article was co-written by Danielle Jacks, MD. Danielle Jacks is a medical doctor with the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. She received her doctorate from Oregon Health and Science University in 2016.
There are 8 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 1,459 times.
A wound may fester if infected. Pus is often frightening because it is a mixture of dead cells, dead tissue and bacteria that the body has tried to destroy in order to heal the wound. You can help your body get rid of the pus with clean and sterile materials. However, if the wound does not heal and there is still a lot of pus, you should seek medical help. Your doctor or nurse can assess and treat the wound and teach you how to care for it so it can heal well. [1] X Research Source
Steps
Wash the wound at home
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Wash and dry your hands. Use hot water and antibacterial soap to wash your hands thoroughly, making sure to scrub between your fingers on all surfaces. Dry your hands with a new, clean towel; Do not use hand towels that have already been used by someone else. [2] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source
- It is very important to wash and dry your hands when washing the wound. This will help you avoid introducing more bacteria and pathogens into the wound.
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Look closely at the wound before touching it to determine if you can clean it up. Look closely for the opening of the wound and the location of the pus. If you see pus-filled spots on the wound surface, you can clean the pus at home. If pus is inside a closed abscess under the skin, it’s best to let a medical professional handle it. [3] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source
- Carefully assess the wound to avoid touching areas that are free of pus and are healing. If you touch these areas unnecessarily, you will only open up the wound, creating an entrance for germs and bacteria to enter.
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Apply warm compresses or soak the wound. Make a compress by dipping a clean washcloth in warm water. Gently place the towel over the wound and let it sit for a few minutes without pressing down. After a few minutes, remove the gauze and gently wipe the wound surface to clean the pus. If you want to soak the wound, pour warm water into a basin and soak the wound for about 20 minutes, then pat dry with a clean towel to remove any pus. [4] X Research Sources
- Apply or soak the wound once or twice a day.
- If the wound is sutured with sutures, you need to take care not to soak it in water. Apply only gauze and follow your doctor’s instructions for wound care. [5] X Research Sources
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Wash the wound with soap and water. Rub a small amount of liquid antibacterial soap into the wound and rinse thoroughly. Remember to be gentle but wash the soap thoroughly with clean water. It is important to remove bacteria and debris from the purulent wound. Do this once a day to clean and heal the wound. [6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- After you’ve washed it with soap and water, dry it off with a new, clean towel. Make sure the wound is completely dry before dressing or applying medication.
- If you’re treating a child’s wound, tell your child not to touch the wound while it dries and before applying a bandage.
Seek medical attention
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See your doctor if the wound becomes infected and does not heal. If the wound becomes infected, you need to seek medical attention to prevent the infection from progressing and spreading to other areas of the body. Signs of an infection that require medical attention include: a dark red appearance around the wound, an abscess forming on the wound and a lot of pus, fever, or feeling unwell. [7] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source
- Knowing how to self-care for a wound is important, but it’s equally important to know when you need medical help. If you’ve been clearing the pus for several days but the wound still doesn’t heal and continues to fester, it’s time to see a doctor.
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See your doctor to have the pus cleared. The doctor can drain the pus with a syringe and clean the wound. If there is a large abscess, the doctor may have to make an incision with a scalpel or insert a drain to allow the pus to drain on its own. After that, the wound will usually be covered with a bandage. You will have to change the dressing every day. [8] X Research Sources
- If the wound is very painful, your doctor may use an anesthetic to relieve pain during the procedure.
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Follow your doctor’s instructions to clean the wound next time. After the pus has been drained and cleaned, your doctor will usually give you a wound care instruction sheet, which usually describes how to change the dressing and wash the wound at home. Follow your doctor’s instructions so that the wound does not fester and heals well. [9] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source
- Instructions may vary slightly depending on the location of the wound and the cause of the infection.
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Take antibiotics to treat the infection. In many cases, antibiotics actually work to remove the pus and help the wound heal. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for you to apply to the wound or antibiotic tablets that you will take every day. [10] X Research Source
- If the wound becomes very infected, you will usually need to take antibiotics to treat the infection and prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of the body.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions for when to take antibiotics and how long to take them. It is important that you take the full course of medication prescribed, even if the wound appears to have completely healed to clear up the infection.
Avoid common mistakes
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Do not poke the wound with a cotton swab or other tool. While you may want to use a cotton swab or any red instrument to drain the pus from the wound, this leaves it open to reopening or bacteria can enter the wound. [11] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source
- Because of this risk, it is best to treat the wound only on the surface at home. If you feel the need for deeper wound cleaning, seek medical attention.
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Avoid squeezing the wound. While this sounds like an effective way to get pus out of a wound, it’s actually not. Squeezing the pus may push the pus deeper into the wound without removing all the pus, further opening the wound and increasing the risk of infection.
- Instead of squeezing the pus, be gentle with the wound while it heals and let the body heal itself.
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Avoid touching latex and do not get on surfaces. If you touch the wound with dirty hands, the infection will get worse. Also, pus can be a symptom of an infection, so pus getting on things that other people use can spread the disease. [12] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source
- For example, use separate towels from people who live in the same house. This will help reduce the risk of infecting others.
- Also, don’t forget to wash your hands often to reduce the risk of infection spreading when you touch objects with dirty hands.
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This article was co-written by Danielle Jacks, MD. Danielle Jacks is a medical doctor with the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. She received her doctorate from Oregon Health and Science University in 2016.
There are 8 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 1,459 times.
A wound may fester if infected. Pus is often frightening because it is a mixture of dead cells, dead tissue and bacteria that the body has tried to destroy in order to heal the wound. You can help your body get rid of the pus with clean and sterile materials. However, if the wound does not heal and there is still a lot of pus, you should seek medical help. Your doctor or nurse can assess and treat the wound and teach you how to care for it so it can heal well. [1] X Research Source
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