Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Take care of the wound immediately
• Part 2 of 4: Get professional help
• Part 3 of 4: Continuing the treatment
• Part 4 of 4: Reducing scars
• Tips
• Warnings

Your face is your identity; it is your most unique characteristic and people recognize who you are by it. If you've had a cut, scrape, or surgery on your face, you probably want the cut to heal as soon as possible and not leave a scar, as that will permanently change the way your face looks. Whether you continue to see a scar for a long time is partly determined by your genes, but taking good care of the wound is the best way to reduce the chance of a permanent scar.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Take care of the wound immediately

1. Stop the bleeding. If the wound is bleeding, the first step is to stop the bleeding. Do this by applying pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or sterile gauze. Do not move the cloth until the bleeding has stopped.
   • An injury to the face usually bleeds more than a wound elsewhere on the body, so the wound may look worse than it is.
   • Crying will make it bleed worse, so try to stay calm and stop crying.
2. Assess the injury. If the cut is very deep, especially if it is a stab wound, you may need to go to the hospital right away. Large gaping wounds or very deep wounds should be stitched and professionally cleaned. Superficial wounds can be treated at home.
3. Wash your hands. Before touching the wound, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Thoroughly wash both hands, including between your fingers, and your wrists, rinse with warm water, and dry with a clean towel.
   • It is very important to wash your hands to reduce the risk of infection of the wound.
4. Clean the wound well. Clean the wound very gently with soap and water. Make sure to rinse the soap completely out of the wound with water. Be careful to remove any visible debris from the wound.
   • Use cool or lukewarm water. Water that is too hot can cause the wound to bleed again.
   • Have patience and take this step slowly. If you can still see debris in the wound, gently remove it with a soft cloth.
   • If necessary, sterilize tweezers with alcohol and use it to get small pieces of debris out of the wound.
   • Do not use hydrogen peroxide or iodine as it can irritate or damage the tissue.
5. Treat the wound. An antibacterial wound ointment such as Nestosyl is a good option, but if you don't have it at home, petroleum jelly can also help. Expensive creams or remedies that are said to be anti-scarring usually do not help as well as they claim.
6. Dress the wound. Put a sterile bandage or plaster over the wound. This can be tricky on your face, but it's important to keep it from getting infected.
   • Put gauze over the wound and secure it at the top and bottom with plaster tape.
   • If the wound is still bleeding, put a band-aid tightly over the wound. If it doesn't bleed, you can cover it a bit more loosely.
7. Use a dovetail for open wounds. An open wound must be pressed together to promote healing and to prevent scarring. A dovetail pushes the skin together so that it heals better. If this doesn't work, you will likely need stitches and go to the hospital.
8. Reduce swelling. If the wound is swollen (if the wound is the result of a hard blow, for example), it is important to reduce the swelling. You can do this by putting ice on the wound for 20 minutes at a time.

Part 2 of 4: Get professional help

1. Go to the hospital if it needs stitching. If the wound is open enough to prevent the skin from sticking together on its own, you may need stitches. By closing the wound properly immediately after the accident, you reduce the risk of scarring and it heals faster.
2. Make sure you haven't broken any bones. If you've been hit hard to the face, you need to make sure you haven't broken or torn any bones. This is especially important if the cut is the result of an accident or other hard blow.
3. Watch for signs of infection. If the wound starts to swell, fill with pus, feel warm or hurt more, or you develop a fever, seek medical attention. An infected wound heals more slowly and a serious infection can develop.
4. Consider plastic surgery in severe cases. In case of severe scarring, you can consult a plastic surgeon. In some cases, laser treatment or surgery can lessen the effects of the scarring.
   • It is especially important to seek help if a scar that has faded turns red, or if the scar makes the skin so tight that normal facial movements are impossible.
5. See your doctor for a tetanus shot. If you haven't had a tetanus shot recently, you may need one, depending on the depth of the wound, the object that caused the wound, and other environmental factors.

Part 3 of 4: Continuing the treatment

1. Keep your head a little higher. Try to keep your head higher than the rest of your body. This may mean that you need an extra pillow at night, so that your upper body is slightly raised. If you keep your head higher, there will be less pain and swelling.
2. Keep the injured part still. Excessive movement or shaking can prevent the wound from healing, making it take longer and leaving more scars. Try to keep your face neutral and avoid too much movement.
3. Keep the wound moist. Lubricating the wound with an antibacterial ointment or petroleum jelly will help it heal faster and it will not itch. It is important not to scratch when itchy, because scratching scabs is more likely to cause scars.
4. Change the dressing every day. If you use bandages or bandages, change them every day or if they get dirty or wet. Always use clean, sterile patches or bandages.
5. Expose the wound to the air. If the wound is no longer "open", it is better to take the dressing off. Exposure to air accelerates healing.
6. Drink lots of water. Staying well hydrated with water will help your body function better and your wound will also stay moist so that it can heal from the inside out. Avoid drinking alcohol, especially if it has just happened, as this can cause it to expand and make the bleeding or swelling worse.
7. Eat a healthy diet. Certain foods seem to promote healing in the body. If you eat enough healing food, and leave food with too much sugar and unhealthy fats, you will heal faster. Make sure you eat enough of these:
   • Proteins (lean meat, dairy, eggs, yogurt)
   • Healthy fats (whole milk, yogurt, cheese, olive oil, coconut oil)
   • Vitamin A (red fruits, eggs, dark leafy vegetables, fish)
   • Healthy carbohydrates (brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread)
   • Vitamin C (leafy vegetables, citrus fruits)
   • Zinc (proteins from meat, fish, legumes)

Part 4 of 4: Reducing scars

1. Clean the wound very carefully and bandage it well. The best way to avoid scarring is to keep it from getting inflamed. Taking good care of the wound for the first two weeks is the best approach to combat scarring.
2. Avoid scratching it on crusts. It can be very tempting to scratch scabs while the wound is healing. They usually itch and look ugly. But it is much better to smear the crusts with ointment so that they remain moist. Scratching scabs makes scars much worse.
3. Stay out of the sun. Direct sunlight on a sensitive area that needs to heal can darken the area and make scars worse. When the wound is completely closed, you can apply sunscreen. If it is not completely closed yet, you will need to keep it out of the sun in other ways, such as wearing a hat, covering the wound, or staying indoors.
4. Try silicone plaster. Silicone plasters are thin, transparent sheets that you apply directly to the wound. They keep the wound moist and clean and promote rapid healing. You can find them at most pharmacies or drug stores.

Tips

• Always keep your hands clean or you could transfer germs to the wound and take longer to heal.

Warnings

• A cut can become infected, so watch it closely until it has healed.