Do you know how to properly care for cuts and scrapes? You probably have an idea — but doctors have some tips for your home treatment plan that can help you heal. They can also help you decide when it’s time to seek professional help.
I just got a scratch…it’s not that bad. What should I do?
Sometimes scratches happen – and minor ones are pretty easy to manage. Brian Toy, a dermatologist at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California, told Yahoo Life that the first thing you should do when you’ve scratched something (for example, your knee after falling off your bike or your elbow while diving). a volleyball) is to irrigate the wound with saline or water. This first step is important because it helps remove any debris that could cause infection.
Dermatologist May Hall told Yahoo Life that she prefers to clean these types of minor wounds with mild soap and water and avoids using anything stronger, like hydrogen peroxide, which she says can actually stop wounds from healing. (That’s good news for people who want to avoid the harsh sting of peroxide on an open wound.)
Once the cut is clean (assuming it’s not bleeding too much — more on that in a moment), Hall says you can “apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly like Vaseline or Aquaphor.” Keeping a wound moist, she notes, is very important, because this “facilitates skin cells to stick together more quickly and new skin to form over the cut or scrape.” Hall avoids antibiotic products like Neosporin, which she says many people are unknowingly allergic to.
As a final first aid step, dermatologist Maria Alice Mina told Yahoo Life that he recommends covering the wound with non-stick gauze and medical tape. “This should be changed at least daily and more frequently if you’re concerned about dirt,” she says.
What happens if my scrape or cut is bleeding a lot?
If a wound is bleeding a lot, Toy says to “maintain pressure on the wound with damp gauze or a wet paper towel until the bleeding stops.” While it may be tempting to look at the wound to see if the bleeding has stopped, Toy says to be patient as this will only delay the clotting process. Instead, “put firm pressure on the wound for a few minutes before checking,” he suggests.
Toy says that for some smaller cuts (like a cut finger, for example), you can use a “butterfly closure strip,” a small adhesive strip designed to hold the edges of a wound together.
However, if the bleeding does not stop, you may need to take further action. A major sign that you can’t treat this injury yourself (and apologies to anyone who is sensitive!) is that “yellow fat or red muscle is visible in the cut,” says Toy.
If you have a cut that warrants extra care, Mina says it’s important to seek medical attention immediately, as “a deeper penetration wound may require sutures,” referring to a row of stitches that would close the wound and allow it to heal. would heal. . If you cut your hand on something rusty or dirty, you may also need a tetanus shot, says Mina. This picture prevents tetanus infectiona potentially serious bacterial disease.
What should I have on hand to treat scrapes and cuts?
Dermatologist Hannah Kopelman says everyone should have a first aid kit at home for when injuries arise. This kit must include:
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Mild soap and water or saline solution for cleaning wounds
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Ointment to prevent infection
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Sterile gauze pads
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Adhesive bandages in various sizes
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Tweezers to remove debris
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Scissors for cutting bandages or tape
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Medical tape to protect pads/dressings
It’s also important to keep relevant information about emergency room and urgent care services on hand so you can get medical care quickly if you need it.
