Treat a Graze

Grazes are a common injury that can occur if you slip or fall. Usually, they are not serious, but can become infected if not treated properly. If you get a graze, treat the wound at home first. Stop the bleeding and apply a bandage or gauze. You can reduce the risk of infection by removing any foreign bodies from the wound. In the event you notice complications, see a doctor. Grazes can usually be treated successfully at home, but may require stitches if they're deep enough.

Steps

Treating the Wound At Home

  1. Wash your hands. Before you clean a graze, you should wash your hands. You do not want to touch a bleeding wound with dirty hands. Wash your hands in warm tap water with antibacterial soap.[1]
    • Get your hands wet under clean, running water. Then, lather your hands with soap. Make sure to get between your fingers, under your fingernails, and the backs of your hands.
    • Make sure to scrub for at least 20 seconds. To help you keep track of time, try humming the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
    • Rinse your hands and dry them with a clean, dry towel.
  2. Stop the bleeding. The first thing you want to do with a graze is work on stopping the bleeding. If the graze is minor, bleeding should stop on its own. If the bleeding does not stop within a few minutes, apply pressure to the wound using a sterile bandage or a clean cloth. It can also help to elevate the wound slightly while applying pressure.[2]
  3. Clean the graze. Once you've stopped the bleeding, clean the graze. This can help prevent infection. To clean the graze, run it under tap water. Do not use antiseptic, as this can irritate the skin. When the wound is cleaned out, gently pat it dry with a clean towel.[3]
  4. Apply an antibiotic. To prevent infection, it's a good idea to apply an over-the-counter antibacterial cream or ointment. Neosporin or Polysporin would work well. Apply a layer to the wound, following the instructions on the package.[2]
    • Keep in mind your graze will not heal as fast if you use these ointments or creams. Do not expect these to quickly reduce the appearance of your graze.
    • Such sprays may cause a small rash. If you notice a rash appearing, stop using the spray.
  5. Bandage the graze. You can either use a bandage or adhesive gauze to cover the graze. Make sure the covering is big enough to protect the full graze, and the skin surrounding the graze.[3]

Reducing the Risk of Complications

  1. Remove any foreign bodies from the graze. If you grazed your skin when falling outside, there may be foreign objects lodged in the graze. These should be removed before you clean and dress the wound. If left in, they can cause infection. You can usually run water over the wound to remove things like dirt and debris.[4]
  2. Change the graze's dressing regularly. You should not leave dressing on the wound for too long. This can increase the risk of infection. Make sure to change the graze's dressing at least once a day.[2]
    • Early on, you may have to change the dressing more. If the bandage gets wet from puss or blood, change it.
  3. Learn the risk factors for infections. Understanding the risk factors for infection is important. You should be more vigilant about checking the graze if it was accrued under certain circumstances.[3]
    • If any dirt or bodily fluids got in the wound, it's at an increased risk for infection.
    • A wound caused by a human or animal bite is at a greater risk of infection.
    • If your wound is longer than 5 centimeters, or 2 inches, it's more likely to become infected.

Seeking Medical Support

  1. See a doctor if the graze appears infected. In rare cases, grazes can appear infected. See a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:[3]
    • Pain, redness, or swelling around the graze
    • Pus around the wound
    • A feeling of sickness
    • A high temperature
    • Swollen glands
  2. Get a tetanus shot if you are due for one. If you need a tetanus shot, you should get one if you have a new graze or wound. Check your vaccination records. You can ask your doctor for your medical records. If you're younger, your parents may have copies of the vaccination records on hand.[2]
  3. See a doctor if the wound will not stop bleeding. Most grazes will stop bleeding on their own. If the bleeding does not stop, see a doctor. If blood is coming out in spurts, you may have grazed an artery. This will require stitches.[3]
  4. Make an appointment with a physician if you suspect a large foreign object is trapped in the wound. While dirt and debris can be removed with water, an x-ray may be needed to remove larger foreign bodies from the wound. If you suspect something like glass may be embedded in the wound, see your doctor. He or she can take an x-ray to check for foreign bodies and have a doctor determine the best method to remove the object.[4]
  5. Get stitches or special dressing for a deep wound. A graze that is deep or wide may require stitches or special adhesive bandages. See your doctor if your wound is not healing up on its own. He or she can provide you with stitches or special dressing for you wound.[4]

Tips

  • Grazes are not usually major medical concerns, but they can hurt. If the pain is bothering you, take an over the counter painkiller.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cuts/basics/art-20056711
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cuts-and-grazes/Pages/Introduction.aspx
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 http://health.vic.gov.au/edfactsheets/downloads/care-of-open-wounds-cuts-and-grazes.pdf

You may like

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Treat_a_Graze&oldid=325272"