How to Care for Cuts and Lacerations

Cuts, called lacerations by medical professionals, are open wounds. Cuts that can typically be safely treated at home are those that are small lacerations affecting only the skin and fatty tissue beneath. Deeper cuts, and those exposing tendons, muscle or bone need to be treated by a physical for the best outcome and to avoid permanent damage.

What To Do At Home

The first thing to do is cleanse the wound thoroughly. You can do this with soap and water, or use a commercial antiseptic or spray. The main concern is removing any debris that may have gotten into the cut to help stave off infection. You want to be sure that no foreign material such as gravel, dirt, or glass remain in the affected area.

If your cut is bleeding, you will need to staunch the blood flow using pressure. Most minor cuts should stop bleeding quickly, and can then be bandaged with a butterfly bandage to help keep the edges of the wound sealed. It is important to have the edges of the cut touch, but not overlap. This will allow for proper healing.

Keeping the cut clean may mean cleansing and applying a new bandage frequently. This is especially important if your cut is on a hand, or in an area where clothes may rub it and irritate the wound. Minor lacerations will typically heal within two weeks time or less if no complications occur.

When To Call The Doctor

Doctors can decrease the risk of permanent damage to blood vessels, ligaments, muscles and tendons if prompt treatment is sought. If any of the following symptoms occur, it is best to seek professional medical treatment:

- Uncontrolled bleeding that does not cease with the application of pressure
- Numbness, weakness or tingling around the area of the cut
- Inability to move your extremities after receiving a cut

You will also want to contact your doctor if you have been cut deeply on the chest or abdomen where danger of hitting internal organs is a risk. Additionally, cuts on the face can often be disfiguring or leave unsightly scars, so a doctor's intervention could minimize or prevent scarring. Cuts on the palm and hand wounds are also a cause for concern, as they are frequently slow healers and can easily become infected.

If the wound area exhibits any signs of infection you will need to seek medical attention. Often infection won't show up until 24 hours or more after the cut occurs. This is because bacteria take time to grow and multiply. Signs of infection include the following, and not all people will react the same or exhibit the same symptoms:

- Redness and swelling at the site of the laceration
- Red streaks going from the wound opening on limbs and surrounding areas
- Pus oozing from the wound
- Increased swelling
- Fever: If you think your cut has gotten infected, you will want to contact your health care provider without delay. The sooner an infection is treated, the greater chances for a successful recovery without complications or additional scarring.