Wash the skin around the injury with soap. Leave underlying bandages on. I looked all over for this site; the good thing, "My friend punched her mirror and cut her pinky finger severely, but she can't leave the house, so she can't go to, "Told me how to clean the deep cut on my toe. Ideally, a doctor or nurse should clean wounds that are large, deep or dirty, and abrasions caused by gravel. Then rinse the cut or scrape with cool water to remove dirt and debris. Before treating a cut on your finger, make sure to wash your hands to limit your risk of infecting the cut with bacteria. The key is to use copious amounts of irrigation. Some folks will pass out simply from the pain or the sight of blood. This article was co-authored by Anthony Stark, EMR. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away. Apply ice and elevate hand to reduce swelling. Instead, ice should be placed in a soft cloth or inserted into an ice bag. Following the first 12 or 24 hours after the injury, the first symptoms of an infection will become apparent. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 597,803 times. Be gentle when changing wound dressing, as you might tear the almost healed cut. If the cut is causing you extreme pain or a lot of bleeding, get immediate medical attention. Minor cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding on their own. Do not submerge the wound underwater, like in a bath or when swimming. Should your finger is deeply cut which results in split up finger skin, wash the cut under running cool water. If needed, apply gentle pressure with a clean bandage or cloth and elevate the wound until bleeding stops. Get a tetanus shot if your cut is deep and you haven’t had a shot in the last 10 years. A deep cut that occurs over a joint like the knee or elbow might also need to be stitched, since a bandage won't be able to keep it closed. Should you decide not to get your deep cut stitched, there are some things to be considered in healing the wound, such as: You should be able to stop the bleeding immediately after giving the wound sufficient pressure. When the bleeding has stopped, apply a thin layer of antibiotic cream to your cut and dress it with a bandage. She couldn't write with a pen or make a fist. Non-stop bleeding for around 15 minutes after you are applying pressure. You may also need to take antibiotics to prevent infection. A wound with bleeding which won’t clot may indicate damaged blood vessels, which can be serious. If you believe it to be serious, deep and bloody, you must visit a veterinary clinic immediately, there is no need to run the unnecessary risk of infection. What can I take for the pain? And before they pass out, they feel weak or … There are so many good ways to clean out a cut that using a not-so-great method that causes damage should be a last resort only. The cutting is a result of an animal bite. The wound will get cleaned again when you see your doctor to make sure it is thoroughly disinfected. If the wound had contact with anything that could be dirty or rusty, and you are not recent with booster shots, you should get a tetanus shot to prevent an infection from forming. Your cut is very deep or was caused by rusty metal. fever, redness, swelling, drainage of pus, or red streaks radiating from the wound). Avoid warm or hot water as it may tear your tissues and cause more severe bleeding. Clean area with warm water and soap. This helps avoid infection. What do I do if I can see red skin and it will not close up? You may also take oral antibiotics to promote proper healing. When he got home and after determining it was minor enough to treat ourselves, I proceeded to butterfly the 4" long cut so the edges were nicely butted up to each other and put the super glue to work. A bleeding cut on your finger requires immediate attention to help reduce the odds of infection and help it start healing as soon as possible. Don’t try to resolve these kinds of cuts or scrapes on your own at home. You know a cut is through the skin if you can see fat (yellow-tan, lumpy tissue), muscle (deep-red, stringy tissue), or bone (tan-white, hard surface). First, let me say that finger cutsare almost never life-threatening. An injury which has not been tended to properly can lead to a bacterial infection and complications in the cat's health. How to Stop Bleeding in an Emergency. This article has been viewed 597,803 times. If it is close to the bone, you need stitches, but if it is a deep cut with a lot of blood, you can go to your local doctor for butterfly bandages or put a few bandages around the wound. A St John Ambulance trainer shows you how to treat a cut or a graze. Apply pressure to the cut using a clean washcloth or gauze. A deep puncture wound on an arm above the elbow or a leg above the knee; Do what you can to stop the bleeding. How to treat a deep cut without stitches? How to Treat Minor Cuts and Scrapes Clean the Cut. The wound will often bleed and have slightly dehiscent wound edges. Also, wounds that have dirt embedded in them should be evaluated by a doctor. This guide will tell you when to treat a cut on your head under hair yourself and when to seek professional medical help. Larger ... abdomen, pelvis, or back is more than an inch deep; A deep puncture wound on an arm above the elbow or a leg above the knee; Do what you can to stop the bleeding. Like how would they go about disinfecting it and sewing it up, what would they use; that kind of stuff. Then, run the wound under cool water to remove dirt or debris. Learn More. The glue is one of those always-keep-some-on-hand items like duct tape and WD40. This is very common, since in the kitchen, you are developing contacts with hot and sharps things, sometimes without cautions. Call your doctor to see if you need one! He currently works for Mountain View Safety Services and previously worked for the British Columbia Ambulance Service. Two weeks ago, I wounded my ankle and it still hasn't healed. Anthony Stark is a certified EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) in British Columbia, Canada. Apple Cider Vinegar and Copper Sulfate . Sometimes, on the contrary, if bleeding is not stopped or the cut is way too deep may require medical help. This article was co-authored by Anthony Stark, EMR. Finally, cover the cut with … Once your hands are clean, run clear water over the wound. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Once pressure is applied, do not repeatedly remove the dressing to check on the cut – … This will make it easier for paramedics to arrive on the scene prepared to immediately assist. All of this was very helpful.". If the cut is causing you extreme pain or a lot of bleeding, get immediate medical attention. “A cut by a dirty, rusty nail on the hand is more likely to get infected than a cut by a clean knife on your upper thigh.” First aid for cuts and lacerations. A Piedmont emergency medicine physician explains the steps you need to take to properly treat a cut. You will need to have the stitches removed, usually in 7 to 14 days. Treatment options for deep cuts include stitches, staples, or liquid stitches. http://www.piedmont.org/livingbetter A bruised hand is generally treated with anti-inflammatory medications and rest. Creams with vitamin E or silica in them can often help reduce keloid scars (raised, red marks) that result from major wound healing. Rinse the wound with water. I was able to help my friend who had a deep cut. In this case, infection can easily spread. Seek doctor immediately if you so much as suspect it's beginning to get infected. Be careful to avoid getting debris in the wound as you cut away the clothing. When the bleeding stops or gets lighter, cover the wounded area with a sterilized gauze. My husband cut his hand and it bled horribly. If it isn’t coming off, coat it with petroleum jelly and change the bandage every morning, monitoring how well your cut is healing. First aid for this type of cut is administered with the purposes of first attempting to stop the loss of blood and reducing the risk of infection if possible. If you cut yourself, the first thing you should do is apply pressure with a clean bandage or cloth, and keep that part of your body elevated above the heart, if possible. A small amount of blood can help clean out the wound. If the cut is on your hand, the bandage will probably come off after repeated hand washing. Dr. If you are exposed to the bacteria through a cut from something dirty or rusty, it is important to get a booster shot to prevent future infection. A Piedmont emergency medicine physician explains the steps you need to take to properly treat a cut. How can you close up a deep, wide cut to the bone that has been present for 6 months? Last Updated: May 30, 2019 Skin staples can be replaced the stitching. This way, you will not introduce any dirt, germs, or other foreign substances into the cut that may later cause it to become infected. Using a clean piece of gauze or a clean cloth, apply pressure to the cut. Clean the Wound . There is a risk of infection and also a risk of permanent tattooing of the skin from gravel or dirt which remains in a wound. Deep space infection; It is an infection that affects one of the deep structures on the hand and fingers, such as the tendons, inner blood vessels, and the muscles of the infected hand. An over-the-counter pain reliever like Advil may help with the pain. A deep cut can affect tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, or bone. It is usually one to three days depending on the type of stitches and the size of the wound. Most cuts and grazes are minor and can be easily treated at home. August 22, 2015 by woundcaresociety Leave a Comment. Deep scrapes that are not quite that deep can generally be compressed, washed, and bandaged at home. Ice it for 10 minutes every day. Cut away clothing, if needed, so that you can see the wound. A cut may be deep, smooth, or jagged. % of people told us that this article helped them. Apply ice and elevate hand to reduce swelling. Unfortunately, if you have a deep wound and the sanitizer is alcohol based, you can do some serious damage using hand sanitizer on it. Do not wrap too tightly; ensure that two fingers can slip under the bandage. Once you can get them wet, gently wash the wound over the stitches or staples with soap and water when you shower. A puncture wound is a break of the skin caused by a pointed object, such as a knife, scissors, teeth, etc. The cut is on the body parts, which require excessive movements, such as hands, legs, arms, and feet. The cut was between my thumb and index finger about 1cm deep? Cuts: A cut is an area of severed skin that has been penetrated with a sharp edge, such as a knife, a small tool or the edge of a sheet of paper (paper cuts are also painful). You can get Urgent Care in Gillette, where you can experience with the best possible facilities. The doctor has checked you carefully, but problems can develop later. I recently got my hand cut by a knife. ", "I believe this will be very helpful to me in the future, thanks for the advice. Will a deep wound heal without stitches? Log in. It may be near the surface of the skin, or deeper. A cut is a break or opening in the skin. If there is any dirt or debris in the cut, use tweezers to remove it. Most forms of wounds—cuts, scrapes, lacerations, … Approved. The cut is on the body parts which require excessive movements, such as hands, legs, arms, and feet. 1. If you are using your ankle at all, that will slow down the healing process. Apply pressure to the area using a clean and dry absorbent … You can apply bandage to join the separated skin surface. Gently clean the cut by wiping away blood or dirt with little water and diluted antibacterial liquid soap. Large puncture or cut wounds are prone to bacterial infection, since those wounds won’t close immediately like small wounds do. A compression bandage can be made from clothing, fabric, rags, etc., if you don't have any first aid bandages. If the person with the cut feels weak or dizzy, call 911 and treat for shock. This will speed up healing and prevent infection. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The cut is deep and there are parted skin layers. If the cut is shallow it will make less of a difference. Skin is the body's shield against germs. How to prevent an infected cut Clean the area immediately after you’ve been injured. Shock can also be a life-threatening issue. I have been cleaning the wound with soap and water. If i feel hot and feverish and my vision is blurry after a cut, what does this mean? 1 doctor answer. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/taking-care-of-cuts-and-scrapes-the-basics?source=search_result&search=deep+cuts&selectedTitle=1~150, http://www.uptodate.com/contents/stitches-and-staples-the-basics?source=see_link, http://www.uptodate.com/contents/basic-principles-of-wound-management?source=search_result&search=lacerations&selectedTitle=5~150#H55268733, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If it's a small cut, you can treat it like any other. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Do not pick the scabs despite the itching it may cause, as this might cause the closing cut to re-open. The doctor should tell you how long this should be. The first step with either is to try to stop the bleeding. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. hi i just got a cut from a knife slip on the webbing between my index finger and thumb. By using our site, you agree to our. How to treat a deep cut without stitches? Watch any signs of infection, such as redness, pus secretion, increasing pain, throbbing, and fever. How to treat cuts and grazes Stop the bleeding. A cut can be deep, smooth or jagged. If you or someone you are with has a deep cut, you need to assess the severity of the wound and then treat the injury accordingly. Here’s how to determine if you are dealing with a major wound: • If the wound or cut is more than a quarter inch deep or reaches the bone. It depends on the type of cut and where it is. Reply . Stop the bleeding. Whether it's an emergency or not depends on how long, how deep and where the cut is. They can often close smaller cuts with medical glue or strips of tape instead. Keep your stitches or staples dry and covered with a bandage for several days. the cut is long or deep; something is embedded within the cut ; the cut occurred as a result of an animal or human bite, or was punctured by any other object that may cause infection; the cut is on the mouth, face, hand or genitals; If any of these apply, go to an urgent care centre or A&E as soon as possible. If the wound is large and bleeding a lot, try to wrap the area with a towel or bandage, then continue to apply pressure. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Particularly if you do a lot of walking, consider wearing two pairs of socks until the cut has healed somewhat. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. its to late to go to my local doctor. A deep cut can be caused by any sharp object impacting your skin, including something as simple as a corner on a wall or something designed to cut, like a knife. Signs that it is a problem needing quick attention can include any or a combination of the following: extreme pain, a lot of bleeding, signs of shock (such as cold, sweaty skin, feeling cold, or paleness of skin and appearance). Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Too much water can slow down healing and result in infection. Unstitched deep wound requires more attention. Before you touch the wound, wash your hands with soapy water to avoid infecting it. This article received 14 testimonials and 81% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. A Verified Doctor answered. ", "Very helpful. It depends on where and how deep it is. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Change-a-Wound-Dressing-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-a-Wound-Dressing-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Change-a-Wound-Dressing-Step-5.jpg\/aid663450-v4-728px-Change-a-Wound-Dressing-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"