Handling Injuries: From Small Cuts to Serious Wounds
Do you know the best way to care for minor cuts and injuries? Find out the facts surrounding common wound care myths and when to seek medical treatment.
Do you know the best way to treat common injuries, such as cuts, scrapes and minor burns? How about knowing when to make a call to get medical help for a more serious wound?
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
When it comes to properly addressing injuries, there’s a lot of fact mixed with folklore. Nurse practitioner Evan Minior, CNP, debunks three of the most common myths below.
Fact: While it’s true that antiseptics can kill harmful bacteria, they also may damage surrounding healthy tissue. New tissue is especially susceptible to harsh antiseptics because it’s more sensitive than mature skin, Mr. Minior says.
“When it comes to cleaning superficial wounds, good old-fashioned soap and water is the way to go,” he says.
The best practice: For fresh wounds, wash out your wound with a large quantity of warm, soapy water as soon as possible. It is also OK to get in the shower and let copious warm, soapy water flow through the wound.
Fact: “People think that irrigating wounds can lead to infection, but that’s just not true,” Mr. Minior says. “The best way to prevent infection is by washing it out more frequently – the solution to pollution is dilution.”
The best practice: For minor wounds, cleanse the affected location with a copious quantity of warm, soapy water at least once a day. In more complicated wounds, e.g. pressure sores, your provider may have you wash out the wound two to three times a day to help prevent infection.
Fact: Bandages are helpful tools for keeping your wound clean. They also help maintain a moist environment that promotes healing. But that doesn’t mean you should put on a bandage and not take it off, Mr. Minior says.
The best practice: Remove the bandage or dressing at least once a day to cleanse your wound. Once the wound has been irrigated and cleaned, apply a new bandage.
You can typically take care of wounds at home without medical intervention. But not always. The following scenarios, which are more serious, typically require medical attention.
Visit a hospital Emergency Department (ED) if the wound:
Seek help at the urgent care center or the ED if:
Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if:
If a clinician has treated your wound but your condition hasn’t improved in 90 days, you should consider getting a second opinion, possibly with a surgeon, Mr. Minior says.