Abrasions are cuts to the top layer of skin that happen on the face or hands, and cuts are usually deeper. Minor wounds can be treated with basic first aid techniques at home. It's important to clean the area well and keep it covered with a bandage until it heals so that you don't get an infection. If your cut is deep enough that you can see muscle tissue or bone, seek medical attention right away.
What you'll need
The first step in treating a cut is to clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Use tweezers to remove any dirt or debris from the wound, then pat it dry with a clean towel or paper towel.
Next, disinfect the cut by applying an antiseptic wipe or spray (if you have one) directly onto your skin around the injury site. If you don't have access to these products, use some diluted bleach instead--but make sure not to get any of this solution into your eyes or mouth! You can also sterilize tools such as scissors or knives before using them on an open wound by boiling them in hot water for at least five minutes; be careful not to burn yourself when handling these tools after they've been boiled!
Clean the injury
- Clean the injury: Use soap and water to clean the wound. Rinse with clean water, then apply a disinfectant to the wound.
- Dry it: Dry the area thoroughly with a clean towel or washcloth, making sure that all water is removed from your skin so that bacteria cannot grow in it (you can also use antiseptic ointments on top of this).
- Apply pressure: Press down firmly on your cut until the bleeding stops--this can take anywhere from five seconds to several minutes depending on how deep your cut is or how much blood there is flowing out at once; if you're applying pressure for longer than five minutes without seeing any improvement in bleeding at all, see a doctor immediately because there may be internal damage from an artery being severed!
Apply pressure to stop the bleeding
- Apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or bandage.
- Use pressure to stop the bleeding. Don't use your hands; they may be contaminated with germs from other parts of your body, which could increase infection risk if they touch an open wound.
- Don't remove the bandage until you've been to the doctor, even if it looks like most of the bleeding has stopped; this will help prevent infection and keep abrasions from getting infected later on.
- If you need stitches, let your doctor know so he can stitch up any cuts in their original locations rather than moving them around when closing up wounds.
- Don't remove any bits of glass or other debris from an abrasion until after cleaning it out thoroughly at home (or going straight to urgent care).
Cover the wound with a bandage
- Bandage the wound to prevent infection.
- Bandage the wound to reduce pain.
- Bandage the wound to keep it clean and dry, which helps prevent further damage and promotes healing.
- Use an adhesive bandage if you want something that stays in place but can easily be removed when necessary, such as when bathing or showering (and don't forget to remove any tape or wrap first!). To choose between an adhesive bandage and gauze, consider your preferences and how long you think it will take for your cut-up finger or toe injury to heal: If you want something more durable and protective than a sterile gauze pad but less so than tape or wrap--and/or if you don't mind having something on hand at all times--then go ahead and buy some adhesive dressings!
Keep the wound clean, dry, and protected
- Keep the wound clean, dry, and protected.
- Clean the wound with soap and water, then cover it with a bandage.
- Don't put pressure on the wound or pick at scabs; if you do, you may cause bleeding again or damage tissue under your skin that could lead to infection (and even scarring).
- Don't use alcohol unless directed by a doctor because it can irritate sensitive skin--and it won't kill germs anyway!
Seek medical attention if necessary.
- Seek medical attention if necessary.
- If you have a large amount of blood coming from the wound, or if it is deep, seek medical attention immediately.
- A wound on your face should be evaluated by a doctor to check for damage to underlying structures like teeth and bones.
- If you have diabetes and are experiencing difficulty controlling your blood sugar levels, go see your doctor right away as this could lead to serious complications if not treated promptly. Even without diabetes though, anyone with a cut could develop an infection in their body if left untreated for too long (more than 15 minutes).
- Any time there is bleeding that does not stop after 15 minutes, it's important that you seek treatment from a professional because this may indicate internal bleeding which requires immediate intervention by someone trained in emergency medicine or surgery before serious organ damage occurs due to lack of oxygen being supplied through normal circulation routes due to clotted vessels near where external bleeding has taken place externally on skin surface areas where blood vessels run close together under layers thickened outermost layer called epidermis made up mostly collagen fibers reinforced structure called dermis underneath consisting mostly collagen fibers reinforced structure called subcutaneous fat layer underneath which contains lymphatic system responsible removing waste products produced by cells throughout the body via lymph nodes located throughout human body including head neck shoulders arms legs feet hands toes etcetera
Minor cuts and abrasions can be treated at home without a trip to the ER.
- If the wound is deep or dirty, go to the ER.
- If it is on your hand or foot, go to the ER.
- If it is a large cut, go to the ER.
- If it's bleeding heavily from an open wound (especially if you're not sure how long ago it happened), seek medical attention immediately by calling 911 or going in person to an emergency department (ED).
Conclusion
If you're looking for a way to treat minor cuts and abrasions at home, this article will help you get started. We've covered everything from how to clean your wound and apply pressure to stop the bleeding all the way through covering it with a bandage (and keeping it clean!)
