Sue Huml, LLLL IBCLC
Lansinoh Laboratories Inc.,

I think Mary Graden's post was completely on the mark.

As one who has been writing and speaking on the topic of moist wound
healing for several years now I agree that confusion still abounds on the
topic.

A more appropriate and probably less misunderstood term might be
        Creating the moist environment for the acceleration of healing.

I've written about  how to create the moist healing environment in the past
and will not take up more space  explaining it again.  It's in the
archives, or, I'm happy to snail mail information to anyone who emails me
their snail adddress.

Saline soaks are NOT creating the moist environment for accelerated
healing.  Saline soaks encourage wet to dry healing and will also encourage
scab formation.

I am a member of the wound healing society, and, attended a conference on
wound care a couple of weeks ago and learned something new which thought
I'd pass along.

 Many of the older breastfeeding books would mention placing ice on the
nipple if nipples were sore, to deaden the pain.    I learned that if the
skin is broken and anything chilling/cold  is placed on the open wound, the
newly regenerating cells will be shocked by the cold temperature and may
die off, thereby further delaying healing.

So, no chilling of damaged nipples!

Sue