How To Clean a Wound at Home — and When To Seek Medical Care

Wounds come in different shapes and sizes. And some need more care than others. If there’s any risk of infection or you can’t stop bleeding, you should see a healthcare provider or seek emergency medical care right away. But other wounds may be able to be treated at home.

Certified nurse practitioner Evan Minior, CNP, shares which wounds can be taken care of at home and when you should seek medical help.

Assessing the wound

The first thing you should do is assess the seriousness of the wound. If it’s a superficial wound like a minor scrape or cut, you should be able to take care of it at home.

In general, you should seek emergency care if:

• The wound exposes bone, organs or blood vessels
• Your bleeding is severe and won’t stop even after you’ve applied pressure
• It’s a puncture wound of any kind
• The wound is on your face or genitals
• The wound is caused by an animal or human bite

Assessing the seriousness of the wound is an important step. If it’s particularly deep, for example, you may need stitches or surgical treatment. If you’re unsure whether your wound is concerning or not, it’s always best to be cautious and see a healthcare provider in case it’s worse than it appears. If you’re caring for a burn, you may require more immediate care and different levels of treatment.

Steps for wound cleaning

Once you’ve quickly assessed the damage, you should act fast to reduce the risk of infection by following these steps:

1. Wash your hands

If at all possible, you want to avoid touching an open wound until you’ve washed your hands thoroughly. This important step minimizes the risk of bacteria transferring to the wound and causing an infection.

2. Apply some pressure

Minor scrapes and cuts usually stop bleeding on their own. But if you have a more serious wound, you want to carefully apply pressure to the area until the bleeding stops or until you can seek medical attention. Using a clean and sterile cloth or gauze, gently press on the wound and elevate the affected area to help stop the bleeding. If you continue to bleed through the gauze or cloth, leave the wound covered and place another clean cloth on top. Continue applying pressure while you seek medical attention.

3. Clean the wound

Do not use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. These can further irritate the wound and delay the healing process. Instead, use a washcloth, mild soap and warm water to clean around the wound. Then, irrigate the wound by gently rinsing it in clear, warm running water.

4. Remove debris

If there’s any obvious debris (like small pebbles or splinters), remove it gently with clean tweezers. Anything larger that can’t be removed should be seen by a medical professional. Don’t pick at the wound or pull off any frayed or damaged skin. That can cause you more pain, further damage the skin around the wound and delay the healing process.

5. Apply topical antibiotic creams or ointments

You don’t need this for minor scrapes or cuts, but applying over-the-counter antibiotic ointments or creams can keep your skin moist and prevent infection as more serious wounds heal.

6. Cover the wound with bandages or dressings

If you have a minor scrape or cut, let it air out. You don’t need to bandage it. But larger wounds may need to be covered with sterile bandages, gauze or saran wrap to protect them from further infection. “Bandages are helpful tools for keeping your wound clean,” says Minior. “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.”

To help the healing process, your provider may prescribe a dressing regimen to keep the wound clean and free of infection.

7. Clean the area every day

Remove the bandage or dressing at least once a day to clean the wound. Once it’s been irrigated and cleaned, apply a new bandage. In more complicated wounds, like pressure sores, you may have to wash out the wound two to three times a day to help prevent infection. “People think that irrigating wounds can lead to infection, but that’s just not true,” clarifies Minior. “The best way to prevent infection is by washing it out more frequently — the solution to pollution is dilution.”

When to see a doctor

Remember, if you can’t stop bleeding or you assess that you have a serious wound, see a healthcare provider right away. You should also see one if you notice any signs of infection, like:

• Increased, worsening pain
• Redness that spreads around the wound or red streaks on your skin
• Swelling around the wound
• The area feels hot to the touch
• Pus or discharge draining from the wound
• A foul odor
• Fever or chills
• Feeling generally unwell or sick

“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 or wound care specialist,” advises Minior.