Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Cleanse and bandage the wound
• Part 2 of 4: Care for the wound while it heals
• Part 3 of 4: Know How to Promote Wound Healing
• Part 4 of 4: Promote wound healing with proper nutrition
• Warnings

In the life of each of us, sooner or later, cuts happen. In many cases, there is no need to see a doctor, but in order to preserve your health and not get infected, you should do everything possible to heal the cut as quickly and efficiently as possible. Fortunately, there are several guidelines to help you heal your cut quickly and continue enjoying your normal life.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Cleanse and bandage the wound

1. 1 Wash your hands. Before treating the wound, you need to make sure that your hands are clean and that you do not introduce bacteria into it. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly to make sure they are as clean as possible.
   • Wet your hands with clean, running water.
   • Take the soap and lather your hands with them, rubbing them together. Be sure to apply soap to every area, including the back, between your fingers and nails.
   • Rub your hands for 20 seconds. You can catch the time by singing the song "Happy birthday to you" twice or the alphabet (it will be enough to sing it once).
   • Rinse your hands with clean, running water. If possible, never touch the sink with your hands when you turn off the water. Use your forearm or elbow instead.
   • Dry your hands with a clean dry towel or let them dry naturally.
   • If soap and water are not available, use a disinfectant with at least 60% alcohol. Apply it to your hands in the amount indicated on the package and rub until dry.
2. 2 Stop bleeding. If you have a minor cut or just a scrape, the bleeding will be minimal and will stop on its own. If the bleeding continues, you can lift the wound and lightly compress it with a sterile dressing until the blood stops.
   • If the wound continues to bleed after 10 minutes, seek medical attention. The cut may be more serious than you thought.
   • If the bleeding is too heavy or gushing, you may have damaged an artery. This is an urgent case and you must go to the hospital or call an ambulance immediately. Typical ruptured arteries are the inner thigh, inner forearm, and neck.
   • To provide first aid for a jet bleeding cut while waiting for an ambulance to arrive, apply a squeeze bandage. Place a bandage or cloth over the wound and wrap it tightly around the wound. Do not tie it too tightly so as not to interfere with normal blood circulation. Seek medical attention immediately.
3. 3 Cleanse the wound. To avoid contamination, it is necessary to clean the cut of dirt and bacteria as much as possible. To prevent bacteria from entering the wound, do this before applying the dressing.
   • Rinse the wound with clean water. Running water will remove most of the dirt that may have entered the wound.
   • Wash the area around the wound with soap. Be careful not to get the soap directly into the cut, otherwise it will irritate and burn.
   • If there is still dirt in the wound after rinsing, use tweezers treated with alcohol to remove it.
   • See your doctor if there is any dirt or debris left in the wound that you could not clean up.
4. 4 Apply antibiotic cream or ointment. This will help prevent infection from entering the wound and prevent complications that can interfere with the healing process. In pharmacies, among first aid products, you can easily find remedies based on bacitracin and neomycin.
   • Be sure to check the label for these products to make sure none of the ingredients will cause you an allergic reaction.
   • If rash or irritation develops, stop using the product and see a doctor.
   • If you don't have an antibacterial ointment or antibiotic cream, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly. It will serve as a protective barrier between the wound and bacteria.
5. 5 Protect the wound. If you leave a cut open, there is a chance of dirt and bacteria getting into the cut, leading to infection. Use a sterile, non-stick dressing or tape to protect the cut. Make sure the bandage completely covers the wound.
   • If there is no way to find a bandage, then you can cover the wound with a clean napkin or handkerchief.
   • For shallow cuts that bleed slightly, you can use a medical grade skin glue. It helps protect the wound from infection and is usually water resistant for several days. Apply this product directly to your skin after rinsing and drying the wound.
6. 6 Determine if you need medical attention. If the cut is shallow and hasn't gotten infected, you probably won't need medical attention. However, there are several circumstances in which it is imperative to seek medical attention after cleaning and dressing a wound. If one of them relates to your wound, waste no time see your doctor or go to the hospital.
   • The cut occurred in a child under one year of age. In case of a cut in babies under one year old, it is imperative to seek medical help in order to make sure that there is no infection and scarring.
   • The wound is deep. A cut that extends 6 mm or more into the skin is considered deep. In the case of a very deep cut, you may see subcutaneous fat, muscle, or bone. For better healing and to avoid infection, such wounds are usually stitched.
   • The wound is long. A wound longer than 12 mm is likely to require stitches.
   • The wound is very dirty and contains debris that cannot be removed on its own. If you are unable to completely cleanse the wound, you should seek medical attention to prevent infection.
   • The wound falls on the ligament area and opens wide when the joint moves. For this type of wound, you will also need to put stitches so that it closes well.
   • The cut continues to bleed 10 minutes after direct pressure. This could indicate that the cut was in a vein or artery. In this case, medical attention is required.
   • The cause of the cut is related to the animal. If you do not have information about vaccinations for an animal, there is a risk of contracting rabies. The wound must be thoroughly rinsed and a course of injections may be needed to prevent the disease.
   • You have diabetes. Diabetics are prone to complications from a cut wound, since they have poor circulation and nervous system activity.Even small cuts can be seriously infected and take longer to heal. If you have diabetes, you should always see your doctor for a cut of any size.
   • More than 5 years have passed since the last tetanus shot. Although doctors advise getting a tetanus shot every 10 years, revaccination is often recommended for a deep puncture wound, an animal bite laceration, or any cut with a rusty piece of metal. If more than 5 years have passed since your last shot, see your doctor to reduce your risk of tetanus infection.
   • A cut on the face. Stitches and other treatments will help for a gentle and aesthetic healing.

Part 2 of 4: Care for the wound while it heals

1. 1 Change your bandage regularly. Blood and bacteria from the wound will stain the dressing, so change it at least once a day to prevent infection. Also, try to change the bandage every time it gets wet or dirty.
2. 2 Watch for signs of infection. Even if you have thoroughly washed your wound and keep it closed, trying to protect it from infection, be aware that infection can still occur. Watch for these signs and talk to your doctor if you find any of them:
   • increased pain near the injured area;
   • redness, swelling, or warming of the area around the cut;
   • discharge of pus from the wound;
   • unpleasant smell.
   • Temperature over 37.7 ° C for more than 4 hours.
3. 3 See your doctor if the wound is not healing well. Cuts usually take 3-7 days to heal, and more severe cuts take up to two weeks. If the wound does not heal for too long, then there may be an infection or some other problem. If a week has passed and the wound does not seem to heal, see your doctor.

Part 3 of 4: Know How to Promote Wound Healing

1. 1 Keep the wound area moist. An antibiotic ointment is useful not only for preventing infection, but also for keeping the cut moist. Dry wounds heal more slowly - moisture will speed up healing. Apply ointment every time you dress the wound. Even if you are no longer protecting the cut with a bandage, apply a drop of the ointment to keep moisture inside the wound to aid the healing process.
2. 2 Do not pick or peel off scabs. A crust sometimes forms on the surface of a cut or scratch. It helps protect the damaged area while it heals. Accordingly, you should not pick at the crust or try to rip it off. If you open a cut, your body will have to start the self-healing process over and over, which will significantly slow down the healing process.
   • Sometimes the crusts are peeled off by accident and the cut will bleed again. If this happens, rinse it and bandage it like any other cut.
3. 3 Remove the patches slowly. Although we are often told that it is best to rip off the patches with a quick motion, it actually slows down wound healing. Removing the patch too abruptly can peel the crusts off and reopen the wound. Conversely, rip off the adhesive slowly. To make the patch come off more easily and the peeling process is less painful, you can wet the affected area with warm water.
4. 4 For minor cuts, do not use strong disinfectants. Alcohol, peroxide, iodine, and harsh soaps irritate the wound and cause it to burn, which can slow the healing process and even contribute to scar formation. For minor cuts, all you need is clean water, mild soap, and an antibiotic ointment.
5. 5 Get enough sleep. The body repairs itself during sleep. If you don't get enough sleep, the wound will take much longer to heal. Sleep is also important for a healthy immune system, which helps prevent infection while the wound heals. To help your cut heal quickly and effectively, aim for a good night's sleep.

Part 4 of 4: Promote wound healing with proper nutrition

1. 1 Eat 2-3 servings of protein daily. Protein is an essential component for the growth of skin and tissues. Eating 2-3 servings of protein each day will help your wound heal faster. Healthy sources of protein include:
   • meat and game;
   • legumes;
   • eggs;
   • dairy products, including milk, cheese, and yogurt, especially Greek yogurt
   • soy products.
2. 2 Increase your fat intake. Fat is essential for cell formation, so you need plenty of it to heal quickly and efficiently. Make sure the fats you eat are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, or "healthy fats." The saturated fat found in unhealthy foods will not help healing and can cause other health problems.
   • Sources of "healthy fats" that promote healing include lean meats, vegetable oils such as sunflower or olive oil, and dairy products.
3. 3 Consume carbohydrates daily. Carbohydrates are important for the body as they give it energy. In the absence of carbohydrates, the body has nowhere to take energy, and it will destroy the nutrients that enter it. This is especially true for protein, which will slow down the healing process, since proteins and fats will not be able to participate in wound healing. To prevent this from happening, eat cereals, bread, rice and pasta daily.
   • Eat complex carbs instead of simple ones. Complex carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly by the body, which reduces the likelihood of a sharp rise in blood sugar. Foods containing complex carbohydrates such as whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, sweet potatoes, and whole oatmeal tend to also contain more fiber and protein.
4. 4 Get enough vitamins A and C. These vitamins help the wound heal by stimulating cell growth and stopping inflammation. They also help prevent infection while the wound is still healing.
   • Sources of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, herring, salmon, eggs, and dairy products.
   • Sources of vitamin C include oranges, yellow peppers, dark green vegetables, and berries.
5. 5 Include zinc in your diet. Zinc promotes protein synthesis and collagen growth, thereby promoting wound healing. To get the right amount of zinc in your diet, eat red meat, fortified cereals and shellfish.
6. 6 Maintain the body's water balance. To improve blood circulation, drink more fluids so that the blood supplies your wound with important nutrients. Water also helps flush toxins out of the body, which helps prevent infection.

Warnings

• Talk to your doctor before making significant changes to your diet. If you suffer from any medical conditions or follow a diet prescribed by a doctor, then without the recommendation of a doctor, you can harm your body.
• Call an ambulance or emergency center right away if the bleeding persists after 10 minutes, there are many debris in the wound that you cannot remove, and if the wound is deep or long.