For antibacterial ointment, I recommend Neosporin + Pain Relief. It's got an anesthetic in it to help with the pain. Some people are sensitive to Neosporin (i.e. allergic), so if you react to it (or any other ointment), try another one.

Directly on the wound I like the ADAPTIC dressing from Johnson & Johnson. It's like a single-layer gauze pad that permeated with petrolatum. That way, it doesn't adhere to the healing wound. On top of the ADAPTIC dressing, use a clean gauze pad like the J&J TOPPER.

The worst thing to do is to place gauze directly on the wound. When you have to change the dressing, it rips away all the new skin which is kinda counter-productive.

IMPORTANT: Change your dressings twice a day. It may sound like a hassle, but it's the cleanest way to go, and you'll heal the fastest.

Do not wash the wounds in the shower. They are already clean if you've already scrubbed with Betadine. If you really want to wash the wounds, use some hydrogen peroxide and use a gauze pad or clean cloth to *gently* scrub the area.

Also, do not be tempted to stop dressing the wounds after a few days to let them "breathe". Keep dressing the wounds until you're sure that a new layer of skin has grown in. Otherwise, scabs will form, and it will not only scar worse, but will take much longer to heal completely.

These recommendations are only for large wounds, large enough that a gauze-pad-sized Bandaid won't cover it.

Good luck, dude, and we'll see you out on the road soon!

From Alan:

Just a word on Neosporin with Pain relief. I found out I was allergic to it and it was as bad as a case of poison oak, and spread out from the actual would by at least 300%. I now stick to bacitraicin.

From Tim:

Best thing I ever used was a PH balanced wet patch called something like Nu-skin (no wait I think that's a condom...). Really though, this stuff keeps it from scabbing and really helps healing. I think I got it at Walmart after I sanded my face and shoulder down on Mt. Hamilton. I used it on my shoulder, it worked great!

I think it was called "Second Skin".

From Jeff:

Second skin is that teflon clear layer that you're supposed to used after the wound closes and can be used after you scar. If you use it on a fresh wound, you will pus all over the place and the wound never heals. At least that's what happened to me.

2nd skin is $15 and is reusable. You are supposed to use it continuously for 4 to 8 weeks and it will make your scars go away. Nu-skin is a disposable "scar management system." 3-weeks supply is $16 and the patches are small.

I got a blister from using 2nd skin but I think you are supposed to take it off at least once a day, which I didn't do.

I don't know if scar management is a sham or actually works. I'll know some day, I hope.

Brian Z. also responded:

Thanks for the tips Mike, and all that responded. I'm actually using Tegraderm from 3M (thanks Alan and Michelle) on the ground round on my hip with a non-stick gauze pad in the middle and just plain old non-stick gauze on the rest (tricep, forearm, outer calf and quad). I went in to the doc's today because one of the wounds was presenting like an infected one last night. I cleaned it with a bunch of peroxide last night, and it was much better this morning. Doc said there were no signs of infection and sent me home with a prescription strength tube of Bactroban. It doesn't have any lidocane like the Brave Soldier Mike Z. lent me so it hurts a bit when applied. Hopefully my bike will leave this incident with more scars than me.

I tried to ride around a bit last night and found it to be too much of a hassle due to the amount of bandaging I have going on, so I'll wait until my bandage count is cut in half to ride again. Aditionally, I'm not getting anywhere near the multiples of thousands of dollars Tyler Ham is getting to compensate for the inconvenience of riding while bandaged head to toe (although free Cliff bars do come pretty close in my book!). I'm hoping I can join the training ride this Saturday.

Thanks for the suggestions and support.