How to Soothe Cuts

Soothing a cut can be relativity simple.

The smallest of cuts could turn into the biggest of headaches if not properly treated. Soothing a cut takes only a few minutes, can be done with few items and will ultimately make your cut much more tolerable.

Things You'll Need

• Antibiotic cream or ointment
• Icepack

Instructions

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with antiseptic soap and warm, running water for at least 30 seconds. This will prevent any possibly transfer of germs to your cut while you're trying to soothe it.

2. Pour cool, clear water over the cut. The water will help clean the wound and ease some of the pain. After the wound is clear, make sure to remove any debris inside of the cut. If left inside, the debris could lead to an infection or irritate the wound further. Try using tweezers cleaned thoroughly with alcohol to remove and hard-to-reach debris. If you cannot take the debris out by yourself, seek medical assistance.

3. Gently rub a thin layer of antibiotic cream or ointment, such as Neosporin, onto the cut. This will neutralize any germs which may have compromised the wound and will prevent any further contamination. This is an important step that must not be skipped; or it could lead to a possible infection.The antibiotic cream may also soothe the wound after it has been properly applied.

4. Apply an icepack to the wound. The ice will numb the area and soothe any possible pain. It will also aid in decreasing any possible inflammation around the area of the cut.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply a bandage to the area and change daily in order to keep any harmful bacteria away.

• If the cut is deep or is bleeding profusely you should seek immediate medical attention. Do not attempt to treat a serious wound by yourself or you may cause further complications. If the cut is dirty and deep enough your doctor may recommend a tetanus shot.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Cuts and scrapes