How to Take Care of a Paper Cut

Clean your cut carefully to keep the germs out.

A papercut can at times be more painful than a bigger cut. To keep a papercut from getting infected, you must take care of it properly and give it immediate attention.

Things You'll Need

• Peroxide
• Small bandage
• Topical ointment
• Soap

Instructions

1. Wash your hands completely with soap and water. This helps to remove some of the germs that are in or around the cut. Don't just wash around the area where you have the papercut. Germs can transfer from elsewhere on your hand when you go to apply your bandage. Make sure you wash your hands well.

2. Hold your hand over the sink and pour a small amount of peroxide over the papercut. It should show a little bit of white foam. To be thorough, pour peroxide over the papercut again.

3. Pat the area around the cut dry with a paper towel. Don't touch the cut at all, just dry off the area around it so that the bandage can stick properly.

4. Apply a topical ointment to the papercut. The ointment will help with the pain and allow the cut to heal properly. Consult your doctor or a local pharmacist about which topical ointment would be best for you to use.

5. Place a bandage carefully over the papercut. Make sure that the padded part of the bandage completely covers the cut so that no germs can get in. Press firmly onto the sticky parts of the bandage so it completely sticks to your skin.

Tips & Warnings

• If the cut starts to look worse or like it is infected, contact your doctor immediately.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Read this Article in UK English