Hydrogen peroxide and iodine will harm living cells and should not be used directly on a wound. Use tweezers cleaned in rubbing alcohol to remove dirt, glass, gravel, or other foreign matter remaining in the wound. This will help it stay dry so it can heal faster. Apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment if the wound was dirty. These ointments may help prevent infection and keep the wound moist to help the healing process. Some people are sensitive to these products and may develop a rash.
Change the bandage each day—or sooner, if it becomes dirty or wet—to keep the wound clean and dry. Some wounds, such as scrapes that cover a large area, should be kept moist to help reduce scarring. Sealed bandages work best for this purpose. Taking care of cuts and wounds promptly speeds healing and reduces the chance of permanent scarring.
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Overview Medicare Coverage Options. Broker Resources. Individuals and Families. Health and Wellness. Wellness Library. Cover the cut with a sterile bandage. This will help protect the cut and prevent it from reopening. Change the bandage daily, and keep the cut covered until it heals.
Consider taking over-the-counter pain medication. Acetaminophen can help relieve painful cuts. Make sure your tetanus vaccination is up to date if your cut is from a dirty or rusty object.
As your cut heals, if you notice any signs of an infection, such as pus or increased redness, swelling or pain, call your primary care doctor or a board-certified dermatologist.
How to treat a first-degree, minor burn. Proper wound care: How to minimize a scar. How to treat minor cuts Cuts from a sharp knife or a piece of glass are very common. The doctor might do this with stitches.
If you get stitches, you'll probably need to go back to the doctor in 5 to 10 days to get them out. To remove stitches, a doctor or nurse will snip the thread with scissors and gently pull out the threads. It tickles a bit and feels a little funny, but usually doesn't hurt. Doctors sometimes close small, straight cuts on some parts of the body with medical glue or steri-strips thin pieces of medical tape.
Glue and steri-strips will dissolve or fall off on their own. Getting a cut usually means that there might be a scar on the skin after it heals. If your cut needs to be stitched or glued but you don't see a doctor in time, your scar may be more noticeable.
Cuts from a bite need to see the doctor. Germs from an animal or human mouth can get into the cut and you will usually need antibiotics to prevent infection. Your doctor or nurse will also ask questions to make sure the animal didn't have rabies. Cuts from something dirty or rusty, like a nail could lead to a tetanus infection if your tetanus shots are not up to date.
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