How to Make a Cut Heal

Every one of us has been injured by a cut in the skin. Most cuts don’t need to be checked out in the hospital, but to be safe and avoid infection, do all you should to help them heal quickly and effectively. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the source} You can take several steps to heal cuts quickly and worry-free.

Table of Contents

Cleaning and dressing the wound

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Hand washing. Before taking care of the wound, you need to make sure your hands are clean so you don’t get an infection. It is best to follow the hygiene procedure to ensure that your hands are always clean. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}

Wet your hands under clean running water.
Apply soap and lather by rubbing your hands together. Make sure all the soap is evenly coated on your hands, including the back of your hand, between your fingers and your fingernails.
Rub both hands together for 20 seconds. A common way to tell time is to sing “Happy Birthday” twice or sing “ABC Alphabet”.
Wash your hands under clean running water. If possible, make sure not to touch the faucet when you turn off the water. Instead, use your arm or elbow.
Dry hands with a clean towel or air dry.
If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Take an amount of the solution as indicated on the package and rub your hands together until the solution is completely dry.

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Stop bleeding. If you have a small cut or slight bump, the wound will bleed a little and stop on its own soon after. If not, you can raise the wound and gently press it with a sterile bandage until the bleeding stops. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

If the wound is still bleeding after 10 minutes, seek medical attention. The cut can be more dangerous than you think.
If the bleeding is heavy or does not stop, you may have a ruptured artery. This is a dangerous condition and you should go to the hospital or call 911 right away. The most common places to break an artery are in the inner thighs, inside the biceps, and in the neck. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
To give first aid to a cut that bleeds heavily while you wait for the ambulance to arrive, bandage the wound. Use a bandage or clean cloth to wrap it thoroughly around the wound. However, do not wrap too tightly so as not to prevent blood circulation. Then seek medical help immediately. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Clean the wound. To avoid infection, you need to clean up dirt and bacteria. Do this before dressing so that bacteria do not stick to the wound. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Rinse the wound under clean running water. The faucet will wash away the dirt present in the wound.
Use soap to wash around the wound. Avoid applying soap directly to the cut as it can cause irritation and inflammation.
If debris remains in the wound after washing, remove it with forceps sterilized with alcohol.
See your doctor if there is dirt or debris that you cannot remove.

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Apply antibiotic cream or ointment. These products will prevent the wound from becoming infected and avoid complications that affect the wound healing process. You can easily find antibiotic creams and ointments at the pharmacy. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

However, be sure to check the information on the packaging before using to make sure you are not allergic to the ingredients in the product.
If redness or irritation occurs, stop using the product and see a doctor.
If an antibiotic or antibacterial cream is not available, apply a thin layer of petrpeum jelly. This will help form a barrier to protect the wound from bacteria.

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Bandage. When not bandaged, the wound will get dirt and bacteria leading to infection. Use non-stick sterile medical gauze or a bandage to cover the cut. Make sure the wound is covered. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

If a dressing is not available, you can cover the wound with a clean tissue until you find a suitable dressing.
For small cuts that don’t bleed a lot, you can use a liquid bandage. This product is wound-healing, antibacterial, and usually water-resistant for days. Apply this product directly to the skin after washing and drying the wound. ^{[9] X Trusted Source Seattle Children’s Hospital Go to Source}

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Decide if you need to go to the hospital. A cut on the surface of the skin may not need to be hospitalized unless it becomes infected. However, there are many situations where you need to go to the hospital for proper treatment after cleaning and dressing the wound. If any of the following happens to you or to your injury, don’t delay and go to the hospital right away:

Cuts in children under 1 year of age. Any cut that occurs in an infant under 1 year of age requires careful medical attention to make sure it doesn’t become infected or leave a scar. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Seattle Children’s Hospital Go to Source}
Deep cut. Cuts about 0.5 cm or more into the skin are called deep. With an extremely deep cut, you can see fat, muscle, or bone. This type of wound usually needs stitches to heal quickly and avoid infection. ^{[11] X Research Source}
For wounds longer than 1.25 cm, you will also need stitches. ^{[12] X Trusted Source Seattle Children’s Hospital Go to Source}
The wound has a lot of dirt or debris that you can’t get out. To avoid infection, you should go to the hospital if it is not possible to completely clean the wound.
The wound is in the joint and it opens every time the joint is moved. This type of wound also requires stitches to help it heal. ^{[13] X Research Source}
The cut continued to bleed after 10 minutes of applying strong pressure. This could be a sign that the cut has hit a vein or artery. This wound needs proper medical treatment. ^{[14] X Research Source}
Wounds caused by animals. You are at risk for rabies unless the animal’s vaccination history is known. The wound should be thoroughly cleaned and you should be vaccinated to prevent rabies. ^{[15] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
You have diabetes. Diabetes often causes complications in wounds because of poor blood circulation and nerve problems. Small cuts can become severely infected or take a long time to heal. If you have diabetes, you should see your doctor when injured. ^{[16] X Research Source}
You had a tetanus shot 5 years ago. Although doctors recommend getting a tetanus shot every 10 years, you should still get a booster shot if you have a deep wound, laceration from an animal bite, or any cut from rusted metal. See your doctor if you’ve had tetanus shots for more than 5 years to reduce your risk. ^{[17] X Research Source}
Cut on the face. Stitching or other treatment may be helpful in cosmetically healing the wound. ^{[18] X Trusted Source Seattle Children’s Hospital Go to Source}

Caring for wounds that are about to heal

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Change dressings often. Blood and bacteria from the cut will stain the old dressing and it should be changed at least once a day to prevent infection. In addition, you should also change the dressing any time it becomes damp or dirty. ^{[19] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Watch for signs of infection. Although thorough cleaning and dressing help prevent infection, it can still happen. Watch out for the signs and talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms: ^{[20] X Research Source}^{[21] X Research Source}

Increased pain around the wound.
The area around the cut is red, swollen, or hot.
Purulent wound.
The offensive smell of.
You have a fever that is above 37°C or lasts for more than 4 hours.

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See a doctor if the wound does not heal. A cut usually takes 3-7 days to heal, or 2 weeks if it’s a serious wound. If your wound is taking a long time to heal, it may have an infection or other problem. See your doctor if the wound has not healed after 1 week. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Help wounds heal

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Keep the area around the wound moist. Antibiotic ointments not only help prevent bacteria, but they also help keep the cut moist. This is a boon because dry wounds take longer to heal, so moisture will help speed up the process. Apply ointment every time you bandage the wound. Even if you no longer have a bandage on the wound, still apply ointment to keep it moist and help the wound heal. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

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Avoid peeling or picking at the scab from the wound. Scales sometimes form at cuts or after being scratched. The scales will help protect the wound as they heal. Therefore, you should not peel or try to separate the scales. This will remove the protective layer of the cut and the body will have to heal itself again, leading to a longer healing time. ^{[24] X Research Source}

Sometimes the scab will fall off accidentally and the cut will bleed. If this happens, clean and bandage the original cut.

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Remove the dressing slowly. Although we are often advised to remove the bandage quickly, it will take a long time to heal the wound. Removing the bandage too quickly can cause scabs and open wounds, making it impossible for the wound to heal as quickly. Therefore, remove the dressing slowly. To make this easier, you can soak the wound in warm water to loosen the dressing and make it less painful to remove. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

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Avoid using strong antibacterial products on minor wounds. Alcohol, peroxide, iodine, and harsh detergents are irritating, inflamed, and possibly scarred. For minor cuts and abrasions, you only need to treat with clean water, mild detergent soap and antibiotic ointment. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

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Get enough sleep. The body repairs itself during sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep, the wound can take a long time to heal. Sleep is an essential part of a healthy immune system to avoid infection as the wound heals. Taking the time to get a full night’s sleep will help the wound heal effectively and quickly. ^{[27] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}^{[28] X Research Source}

Help wounds heal faster with the right diet

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Eat 2 or 3 servings of protein per day. Protein is essential for skin and tissue growth. Eating 2 or 3 servings of protein a day will speed up wound healing. Some good sources of protein are: ^{[29] X Research Source}^{[30] X Research Source}

Red meat and poultry
Bean
Egg
Dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, especially Greek yogurt
Soy protein products

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Increase the amount of fat in the body. Fat is essential for cell formation, so you’ll need a lot of it for a wound to heal. You should choose polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats, or “good fats.” Saturated fat in junk food is not helpful for wound healing and also creates other health problems. ^{[31] X Research Source}

Sources of “good fats” that help heal wounds are lean meats, vegetable oils like sunflower or olive, and dairy products. ^{[32] X Research Source}

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Add carbohydrates every day. Carbohydrates are important because the body needs it for energy. Without it, the body would take other nutrients like protein for energy. This slows down wound healing because the body lacks protein and fat. You can avoid that by eating cereal, bread, rice and pasta every day. ^{[33] X Research Sources}

Choose complex carbohydrates over simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are digested more slowly by the body, so they do not affect blood sugar levels. Complex carbohydrates, such as whole-wheat breads, cereals and pastas, unprocessed sweet potatoes and oats, often contain more fiber and protein. ^{[34] X Research Source}

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Get enough vitamins A and C. Both of these vitamins help wound healing by stimulating cell growth and fighting inflammation. In addition, they also help fight infection when the cut is about to heal. ^{[35] X Research Source}

Good sources of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, herring, salmon, eggs and dairy products.
Good sources of vitamin C include oranges, yellow bell peppers, dark green vegetables and berries.

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Add zinc to your diet. Zinc helps in protein synthesis and enhances cplagen production to help wounds heal. Eat red meat, whole grains and shellfish to get enough zinc in your diet. ^{[36] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}^{[37] X Research Source}

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Provide enough water for the body. Increase water intake to improve blood circulation to help provide nutrients to the wound. Furthermore, water also flushes toxins out of the body, helping to prevent inflammation. ^{[38] X Research Source}

Warning

Talk to your doctor before changing your diet. If you have a medical history or are on a prescribed diet, you could harm your body without medical advice.
Call 911 or get medical help right away if the cut doesn’t stop bleeding after 10 minutes, there’s debris in the wound that you can’t get out, or if it’s deep or wide. ^{[39] X Research Sources}

Steps

Cleaning and dressing the wound

Caring for wounds that are about to heal

Help wounds heal

Help wounds heal faster with the right diet

Warning

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