Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Cleanse the wound
• Part 2 of 3: Treat the cut
• Part 3 of 3: Dealing with a severe cut
• Tips

The nose is a very delicate part of the body, and even a small cut or sore in the nose can be painful and difficult to heal. Proper care will help the wound heal faster and avoid unwanted infection. See your doctor if the bleeding persists or the cut does not heal, or if there are signs of infection.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any methods, consult your doctor.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Cleanse the wound

1. 1 Wash your hands. Keep your hands clean to prevent any bacteria from entering the open cut. Run clean running water and lather your hands for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse off the soap completely and dry your hands with a clean towel.
2. 2 Stop bleeding. If the cut (wound) is bleeding and is at the very edge of the nose, gently press down with some clean material and hold until the bleeding stops. Do not plug your nostrils so you can breathe.
   • If the wound is hard to see or is deep in the nose, stop the bleeding with appropriate first aid techniques.
   • Sit up straight and lean forward. This position helps to relieve the pressure in the blood vessels in the nose and prevent blood from swallowing.
   • Pinch your nose with your thumb and forefinger for about 10 minutes. During this time, you will have to breathe through your mouth. Release your nose after 10 minutes.
   • If the bleeding has not stopped, repeat the procedure. If you are unable to stop the bleeding within 20 minutes, seek medical attention as the injury could be more serious than you thought.
   • To cool off during this procedure, you can take off excess clothing or suck on something cold, such as ice cubes.
3. 3 Remove dirt carefully. To reduce the risk of infection and possible complications, you can clean the cut with sterile tweezers.
4. 4 Use clean tools. If you suspect something has gotten into your cut, or if you want to remove skin, tissue, or blood clots from the cut, sterilize the items you intend to use. If it is not possible to sterilize them, make sure they are as clean as possible.
5. 5 Sterilize the required instruments.
   • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
   • Wash tools such as tweezers thoroughly with soap and water and wipe them dry.
   • Place the tools in a saucepan and fill with water so that it completely covers them.
   • Place a lid on the pot and bring the water to a boil. Boil it in a covered saucepan for 15 minutes.
   • Remove the lidded saucepan from the heat and wait for the water to cool to room temperature.
   • Drain the pot so that you do not touch the sterilized instruments. If you are not ready to use the tools yet, leave them in a covered saucepan.
   • Remove the tools carefully from the pan when you are ready to use them. Do not touch the parts that will come into contact with the wound. Grasp only the handles.
6. 6 If the cut is difficult to reach, consider seeking medical attention. If the cut is hard to see or you can't get to it, it won't be easy for you to clean the cut. In this case, you can cause additional damage or introduce bacteria into the wound.
7. 7 Choose a cleanser. In general, wounds, cuts, and minor skin lesions are best washed with soap and water. For more delicate and sensitive areas, it is sometimes recommended to use antibacterial detergents.
   • Chlorhexidine is one of the most common antibacterial detergents and is available over the counter at most pharmacies. Before applying chlorhexidine to the mucous membrane (inner surface of the nose), it must be highly diluted.
8. 8 Read the directions for use. Do not use products that are not designed to be used inside the nose.
9. 9 Clean the tissue around the cut. You can get to the cut and clean it with a cotton swab or twisted bandage. Be careful when doing this.
   • Keep the bandage clean or sterilized with tweezers to help you clean the cut.
   • Apply clean water and mild soap or some chlorhexidine to the tip of a cotton swab or bandage.
   • Rinse off any remaining soap with clean water. Use clean tools for this.

Part 2 of 3: Treat the cut

1. 1 Continue washing your hands frequently. Disease-causing bacteria can enter your bloodstream through the cut.
2. 2 Ask your doctor if it is worth treating the wound with any remedy. Anti-infective and antibiotic creams and ointments are designed to be applied to superficial cuts and scrapes; not all of them are suitable for more serious injuries inside the nose. Ask your doctor if it is safe to use this or that remedy to treat a cut in your nose. Some products require a prescription to purchase.
   • If your doctor approves of a remedy, apply a small amount of antibacterial cream or ointment to the tip of a cotton swab or a small piece of bandage and gently rub the cut with it.
3. 3 Do not touch the cut with your fingers. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly if necessary to clean the wound.
4. 4 Do not touch the wound. Do not touch the cut after you apply the medicine to it. Do not touch it with your fingers or peel off the crust, or you will slow down healing and increase the risk of infection.
   • Clean the wound gently and use an emollient that is suitable for the nose to prevent large, uncomfortable scabs from forming on the cut. Consider applying an anti-infective ointment or a small amount of petroleum jelly to the wound to help moisturize it.
   • As a result, a thinner and softer crust forms on the cut, which promotes healing.
5. 5 Continue cutting the cut as needed. Depending on the location of the cut, its length, and depth, you may need to apply cream or ointment for several days. Be careful not to introduce bacteria into the wound.

Part 3 of 3: Dealing with a severe cut

1. 1 Seek medical attention if you are unable to stop the bleeding. Ongoing bleeding can be a sign of a broken bone, deep cut, or other serious injury. If the bleeding continues for more than 15–20 minutes, this indicates a fairly serious injury.
2. 2 See your doctor if the cut hasn't started to heal within a few days. Some damage to the inside of the nostrils requires medical attention. The nose is a sensitive organ with many blood vessels, fluid (mucus) and sinus drainage, and is susceptible to various infections. For some injuries of the nasal canals, the help of a therapist and even a specialized doctor, an otolaryngologist, is required.
   • Sometimes the damage seems to be healing, but it re-emerges after a few weeks or months. This indicates an infection. If this happens, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics or treatments to help prevent relapses.
3. 3 Seek medical attention if an animal has been involved. If the cut is caused by an animal or any dirty object with sharp jagged edges, it (the cut) must be thoroughly washed and treated. The sooner you spot an infection, the easier it will be to get rid of it.
   • See your doctor as soon as possible if your nose injury has been caused by anything that could lead to a serious general infection.
4. 4 Watch for signs of infection. Regardless of what caused the cut, an infection requires immediate medical attention. Watch for the following symptoms of infection:
   • the wound does not begin to heal within a few days or worsens;
   • the damaged area begins to swell and becomes warm to the touch;
   • thick or purulent discharge from the wound, unpleasant smell of the cut site or discharge from it;
   • fever, fever.
5. 5 Ask your doctor about how to treat the infection. In most cases, doctors prescribe oral or topical antibiotics. Depending on the treatment prescribed, the cut will heal within 1 to 2 weeks after you start taking antibiotics.

Tips

• If the cut does not heal for several weeks or longer, it could indicate a more serious injury that should see a doctor.
• Do not touch the cut site.Do not poke open a cut in your nose, otherwise you will slow down healing and increase the risk of infection due to bacteria entering the wound.
• If the cut hurts, swells, or bruises in its place, you may have a broken bone. See your doctor for these symptoms.
• Repeated, prolonged bleeding from the affected area may indicate that you need medical attention. The cut may be deeper or longer than you originally thought.
• If the cut is too deep in your nose and you cannot see it or get to it, seek medical attention.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to speed up healing.
• Remember to get tetanus shots. Adults should be re-vaccinated every ten years.