How to Properly Treat Cuts, Scratches and Scrapes

Summer draws us outdoors and entices us to try new activities or participate in old favorites. Unfortunately, the fun of the season often leads to cuts, scratches and scrapes. Knowing how to properly treat these injuries reduces the risk of infection, results in faster healing times, and gets you back to playing sooner and without worry.

Know When to Seek Medical Attention

First and foremost, you need to know when your injury is severe enough to contact your doctor or go to the emergency room.

If your any of the following describes your injury, contact a doctor:
The cut is deep
The cut is long. Long cuts are considered to be approximately 1 inch when on the hand or foot and 2 inches when elsewhere on the body.
The cut is jagged.
The injury involved a pet. This is especially important if the pet was a cat due to the risk of cat scratch fever.
The injury involved a wild animal.
The injury is due to a bite, either human or animal in nature.
The wound has debris stuck in it after proper cleansing.
The wound is bleeding heavily.
The wound will not stop bleeding after applying direct pressure for 10 minutes.
The injury is a puncture wound.

Also contact your doctor if you are overdue of a tetanus booster. For minor cuts, scratches and scrapes, be sure you have had at least three tetanus shots before the injury and your are within 10 years of your last booster. For more serious cuts, be sure you have had three tetanus shots before the injury and you are within 5 years of your last booster.

Treating Cuts, Scratches and Scrapes When There Is Minimal Bleeding
If a cut, scratch or scrape is minor and has very slight bleeding, the best first step is to clean the wound.

Rinse the cut, scratch or scrape under running cool to lukewarm water. If the cut is in an area too difficult to get under a faucet, fill a clean cup or bottle with water and pour it over the wound.

Use only mild soap, gently applied with a gauze pad or soft, clean cloth, when cleaning a cut, scratch or scrape. Be sure to remove all traces of soap from the wound by rinsing thoroughly. Do not use strong soaps when providing first aid to a cuts, scratches or scrapes, as they can cause additional irritation to the injured area. Under no circumstances should you use strong cleansers or detergents, such as bleach, to clean your injury.

When a Little More Blood Is Involved
If a cut is minor and has a free flow of blood, your first step is to apply direct pressure to the wound to aid the body in clotting. Use gauze or a clean, soft cloth and apply firm, but gentle, pressure for several minutes. Elevate the injured area above the level of your heart whenever possible. If the blood begins to soak through the material, do not remove the gauze or cloth. Simply place another piece of gauze or cloth on top of the one you are currently holding and continue to apply pressure.

Cuts on the head, face and mouth usually bleed more heavily than minor cuts elsewhere on the body due to the large number of blood vessels contained in these areas. Do not be alarmed. Keep applying pressure until the bleeding stops.

Once the bleeding is under control, gently remove the cloth and begin cleansing the wound as outlined above. Bleeding may start again during the cleansing process. Use another clean cloth or gauze pad to apply pressure again once you are done cleaning the wound.

Dealing With Debris
Many scrapes will have debris, such as gravel, sand or wood chips, embedded in them. Increase the strength of cleansing water stream to dislodge as much debris as possible. Use a set of tweezers which have been thoroughly cleaned with rubbing alcohol to remove any remaining surface debris. Do not dig for any deeply embedded items. Do not use brushes or rough washcloths, as doing so will cause more damage to the skin and increase the risk of infection. If you cannot remove all the debris, seek the help of a medical professional.

The Use of Antiseptics
Hydrogen peroxide or other antiseptics are not needed for all wounds. Cleaning a cut, scrape or scratch with hydrogen peroxide causes additional irritation to the injury and can potentially kill off healthy cells needed for healing. Thoroughly cleaning the wound as described above is usually enough. If the cut, scratch or scrape occurred in a very dirty place or while handling items such as raw meat, a little hydrogen peroxide during the initial cleaning may be warranted. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to prevent continued irritation.

To Bandage Or Not To Bandage
Opinions differ as to whether all cuts and scratches need to be bandaged. If the cut or scratch is in an area that will not become dirty, it is fine to leave it uncovered. Apply a topical antibiotic cream a couple times a day to keep it moist and fight infection.

If the cut or scratch is on an area that will easily become dirty (a hand or foot) or an area that will be irritated by clothing (a knee), apply an adhesive bandage or cover it with gauze and medical tape. Continue to use a bandage in these areas for 7 to 10 days, or until the wound is well healed.

Due to the fact scrapes dry out easily and can cause scarring, bandages are generally recommended for them. Extra large adhesive bandages are available in stores. You can also use sterile gauze and medical tape to cover the area.

Bandages hold in moisture, which aids in healing. This same moisture also provides the perfect breeding ground for any bacteria left in the wound. Always use a topical antibiotic cream when using a bandage. Change the bandage daily, or if it becomes wet or dirty. Reapply the antibiotic cream with each bandage change.

In the Days to Come
Watch your cut, scratch or scrape for any sign of infection while it heals. Contact your doctor if you see any signs of infection or if the wound looks odd to you in any way. Signs of infection include:

Pain in the wound or in the surrounding area
Redness and warmth around the wound
Swelling in the area of the wound
Pus draining from the injury
Red streaks form around the injury
Fever