Cuts

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Cuts

Overview

Cuts are open wounds through the skin. Normally the skin is under slight, constant tension as it covers the body. A cut is a forceful injury to the skin. Many people cut themselves by accident with household items, work items, or yard tools or when operating machinery. Children often are cut during play and sports activities or from falls while riding wheeled toys, such as bikes, scooters, or skateboards. Most cuts are minor, and home treatment is usually all that is needed.

Types of cuts

Some types of cuts are more serious and need to be checked and treated by a doctor. These more serious cuts include:

Long or deep cuts.
Cuts that open with movement of the body area, such as a cut over a joint. A cut over a joint may take a long time to heal because of the movement of the wound's edges.
Cuts that may scar and affect the way a part of the body looks or functions. A cut on an eyelid or lip that doesn't heal well may cause problems with function or leave a noticeable scar.
Cuts that remove all of the layers of the skin (avulsion injuries), such as slicing off the tip of a finger. An avulsion injury may take a long time to heal.
Cuts from an animal or human bite. Infection is more likely with a bite injury.
Cuts that have damage to tissues under the cut. Injuries to nerves, tendons, or joints are more common with cuts on the hands or feet. Slight swelling, bruising, and tenderness around a cut, bite, scrape, or puncture wound is normal. Swelling or bruising that begins within 30 minutes after the injury often means there is a large amount of bleeding or that deeper tissues are damaged.
Cuts over a possible broken bone. Bacteria can get into a cut over a broken bone and infect the bone.
Cuts caused by a crushing injury. With this type of injury, the cut may have occurred when the skin split open from the force of the injury. The force of the injury may also damage tissues and blood vessels under the cut. Crush injuries have a high risk of infection.
Cuts that have or are thought to have an object still in the wound. For example, the object might be glass or wood.

Injury to the skin may also break small blood vessels under the skin. This can cause more swelling and bruising than you would expect.

Check Your Symptoms

Do you have a cut? Cuts are open wounds that slice or tear through the skin. How old are you? Less than 12 years Less than 12 years 12 years or older 12 years or older Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question?

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as "male" and once as "female"). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.

Do you have a puncture wound?

This is a wound caused by a sharp, pointed object going through the skin. Puncture wounds are deeper and narrower than cuts.

Puncture wound Puncture wound Is there a cut to the eyeball? Cut to eyeball Cut to eyeball Is the wound more of a scrape than a cut? Scrape, not cut Scrape, not cut Is the wound bleeding? Bleeding wound Bleeding wound Would you describe the bleeding as severe, moderate, or mild? Severe bleeding Moderate bleeding Mild bleeding Do you have a deep wound in your head, neck, chest, or belly? A deep puncture wound in any of these areas could damage the internal organs. Deep puncture wound to head, neck, chest, or belly Deep puncture wound to head, neck, chest, or belly Are you having trouble breathing (more than a stuffy nose)? Difficulty breathing more than a stuffy nose Difficulty breathing more than a stuffy nose Is there any pain? How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine? Signs of pain in an adult or child are different than signs of pain in a baby or toddler. 8 to 10: Severe pain Severe pain 5 to 7: Moderate pain Moderate pain 1 to 4: Mild pain Has the pain lasted for more than 8 hours? Pain for more than 8 hours Pain for more than 8 hours Is the pain getting worse? Pain is getting worse Pain is getting worse Do you have a wound on your arm, leg, hand, or foot that is more than just a scratch? Wound on extremity Wound on extremity

For an arm or leg wound, is the skin below the wound (farther down the limb) blue, pale, or cold to the touch and different from the other arm or leg?

This may mean that a major blood vessel was damaged and that blood is not reaching the rest of the arm or leg.

Skin is blue, pale, or cold below an arm or leg injury Skin is blue, pale, or cold below an arm or leg injury Can you move the area below the injury normally, even though it may hurt? Able to move limb normally below injury Unable to move limb normally below injury

For an arm or leg wound, is there any numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling around the wound or below the wound (farther down the arm or leg)?

This may mean that a nerve was damaged. Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling around or below an arm or leg injury Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling around or below an arm or leg injury Are there any symptoms of infection? Symptoms of infection Symptoms of infection Do you think you may have a fever? Possible fever Possible fever Are there red streaks leading away from the area or pus draining from it? Red streaks or pus Red streaks or pus

Do you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, peripheral arterial disease, or any surgical hardware in the area?

"Hardware" includes things like artificial joints, plates or screws, catheters, and medicine pumps. Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area Is the wound deep enough that you can see the bone, muscle, or tendon? Muscle looks dark and thick, and tendon and bone looks white and shiny. Muscle, tendon, or bone is visible Muscle, tendon, or bone is visible Were you able to clean the wound well? You may not be able to clean the wound if it is deep, hurts too much, or has an object stuck in it. Able to adequately clean wound Unable to adequately clean wound Is there an object stuck in the wound, and you can't get it out?

You may not be able to remove it because of where or how deep the wound is or because it causes severe pain.

Object in wound Object in wound Is the object large or small?

Large means things like a nail or piece of wood that is at least 2 in. (5.1 cm) long and anything bigger than that. Small means things like a pencil tip or a small splinter or sliver.

Large embedded object Small embedded object

Is the cut or wound more than 0.25 in. (0.6 cm) deep and 0.75 in. (2.0 cm) long with sides that gape open?

Wounds like this often need stitches. If you need stitches, it's best to get them within 8 hours of the injury.

Cut more than 0.25 in. (0.6 cm) deep and 0.75 in. (2.0 cm) long with sides that gape open Cut more than 0.25 in. (0.6 cm) deep and 0.75 in. (2.0 cm) long with sides that gape open Is the wound on the face? Wound on the face Wound on the face Are you worried about scarring? Worried about scarring Worried about scarring Do you think you may need a tetanus shot? May need tetanus shot May need tetanus shot

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

Symptoms of infection may include:

Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in or around the area.
Red streaks leading from the area.
Pus draining from the area.
A fever.

To clean a wound well:

Wash your hands first.
Remove large pieces of dirt or debris from the wound with cleaned tweezers. Do not push the tweezers deeply into the wound.
Hold the wound under cool running water. If you have a sprayer in your sink, you can use it to help remove dirt and other debris from the wound.
Scrub gently with water, a mild soap, and a washcloth.
If some dirt or other debris is still in the wound, clean it again.
If the wound starts to bleed, put direct, steady pressure on it.

If a chemical has caused a wound or burn, follow the instructions on the chemical's container or call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) to find out what to do. Most chemicals should be rinsed off with lots of water, but with some chemicals, water may make the burn worse.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
Medicines taken after organ transplant.
Not having a spleen.

Usually found in dirt and soil, tetanus bacteria typically enter the body through a wound. Wounds may include a bite, a cut, a puncture, a burn, a scrape, insect bites, or any injury that may cause broken skin.

You may need a tetanus shot depending on how dirty the wound is and how long it has been since your last shot.

For a dirty wound that has things like dirt, saliva, or feces in it, you may need a shot if:
- You haven't had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years.
- You don't know when your last shot was.
- You have not had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years.
- You don't know when your last shot was.
Pain in adults and older children
- Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain.
- Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there.
- Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.
Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.
- Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace.
- Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her.
- Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her.
Some types of facial wounds are more likely to leave a scar than others. These include:
- Jagged wounds on the face.
- Cuts on the eyelids.
- Cuts to the lips, especially if they cut through the edge of the lip.
Stitches or other treatment may help prevent scarring. It's best to get treated within 8 hours of the injury.

With severe bleeding, any of these may be true:
- Blood is pumping from the wound.
- The bleeding does not stop or slow down with pressure.
- Blood is quickly soaking through bandage after bandage.
With moderate bleeding, any of these may be true:
- The bleeding slows or stops with pressure but starts again if you remove the pressure.
- The blood may soak through a few bandages, but it is not fast or out of control.
With mild bleeding, any of these may be true:
- The bleeding stops on its own or with pressure.
- The bleeding stops or slows to an ooze or trickle after 15 minutes of pressure. It may ooze or trickle for up to 45 minutes.
Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example:
- You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk (mild difficulty breathing), or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all (severe difficulty breathing).
- It may be getting hard to breathe with activity (mild difficulty breathing), or you may have to work very hard to breathe even when you’re at rest (severe difficulty breathing).
Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.
- Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
- If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour.
- You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
  - You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
  - You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.
  Seek Care Today
  
  Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.
  - Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
  - If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today.
  - If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
  - If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.
  Call 911 Now
  
  Based on your answers, you need emergency care.
  
  Call 911 or other emergency services now.
  
  Sometimes people don't want to call 911 . They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.
  
  Call 911 Now
  
  Based on your answers, you need emergency care.
  
  Call 911 or other emergency services now.
  
  Put direct, steady pressure on the wound until help arrives. Keep the area raised if you can.
  
  Sometimes people don't want to call 911 . They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.
  Puncture Wounds Eye Injuries
  Self-Care
  
  Minor cuts usually can be treated at home. Home treatment can help prevent infection and promote healing.
  
  Try these tips for treating a cut.
  - Stop the bleeding . Apply direct pressure to the wound. Nonprescription products can be applied to the skin to help stop mild bleeding of minor cuts, lacerations, or scrapes. Before you buy or use these products, be sure to read the label carefully. Follow the label's instructions when you apply the product. Cuts to the head or face may look worse than they are and may bleed a lot because of the good blood supply to these areas. Controlling the bleeding will help you see how serious the injury is.
  - Clean the wound as soon as you can. This lowers the chance of infection, scarring, and tattooing of the skin from dirt left in the wound. (If dirt or other debris is not removed from a cut, the new skin will heal over it. The dirt can then be seen through the skin and may look like a tattoo.)
    - Use cleaned tweezers to remove large pieces of dirt or other debris from the wound. Don't push the tweezers deeply into the wound.
    - Wash the wound for 5 minutes with large amounts of cool, clean water. Some nonprescription products for wound cleaning can numb the area so that cleaning doesn't hurt as much. Be sure to read the product label for correct use.
    - Don't use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or Mercurochrome. They can harm the tissue and slow healing.
    - Choose the bandage carefully. There are many products available. Liquid skin bandages and moisture-enhancing bandages are available with other first aid products. Before you buy or use one, be sure to read the label carefully. Follow the label's instructions when you put on the bandage.
    - If you use a cloth-like bandage, apply a clean bandage when it gets wet or soiled. This will also help prevent infection. If a bandage is stuck to a scab, soak it in warm water. Soaking it will soften the scab and make the bandage easier to remove. If available, use a nonstick dressing. There are many bandage products available. Be sure to read the product label for correct use.
    - Watch for signs of infection . If you have an infection under a bandage, you may need treatment from a doctor.
    - Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, lightly to the wound. It will keep the bandage from sticking to the wound.
    - Use an adhesive strip to hold the edges of a wound together. Always put an adhesive strip across a wound to hold the edges together, not lengthwise. You can make a butterfly bandage at home or buy one to help hold the skin edges together.
    If you are concerned that the injury is more serious, you may need to be checked by a doctor to see if you need stitches or a tetanus shot.
    
    Need for stitches
    
    To determine whether you need stitches, stop the bleeding and wash the wound well. Then pinch the sides of the wound together. If the wound's edges come together and it looks better, you may need stitches. If stitches may be needed, avoid using antiseptic until after a doctor checks the wound.
    - Most cuts that need treatment should be stitched, stapled, or closed with skin adhesive within 6 to 8 hours after the injury.
      - Some cuts that need treatment can be closed up to 24 hours after the injury. Your risk of infection increases the longer the cut stays open.
      - Sometimes a wound with a high risk of infection won't be stitched until after 24 hours, or won't be stitched at all, so it can be cleaned well to prevent infection.
      Need for a tetanus shot
      
      To decide if you need a tetanus shot after a wound, first decide if the object that caused the wound was dirty or clean. An object is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. A clean object does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it.
      
      You will need a tetanus shot if:
      - Your wound was caused by something that was clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago.
      - Your wound was caused by something that was dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago.
      - You are not sure if your wound was caused by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago.
      - You are not sure when you had your last tetanus shot.
      - You did not get the first series of tetanus shots (primary vaccination series).
      If you need a tetanus shot, call your doctor to arrange for a shot.
      
      Some people may need tetanus immunoglobulin (IG) for a wound that is at high risk for developing tetanus. The immunoglobulin is usually only needed if you have not (or do not know if you have) completed the tetanus primary vaccination series.
      
      When to call for help during self-care
      
      Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:
      - New or worse signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or a fever.
      - New loss of function near the wound.
      - Decreased blood flow, such as cool, pale skin near the wound.
      - Pain gets worse.
      - Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.
      Learn more
      
      Over-the-counter medicines
      - Acetaminophen
      - Aspirin for Pain, Fever, and Inflammation
      - Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
      - Quick Tips: Safely Giving Over-the-Counter Medicines to Children
      More self-care
      
      Preparing For Your Appointment
      
      You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared for your appointment.
      
      Related Information
      
      Credits
      
      Current as of: July 10, 2023
      
      Author: Healthwise Staff
      Clinical Review Board
      All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
      
      Current as of: July 10, 2023
      
      Clinical Review Board
      All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
      
      Topic Contents
      - Overview
      - Check Your Symptoms
      - Self-Care
      - Preparing For Your Appointment
      - Related Information
      - Credits
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      This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
      
      NOTICE: This health information was not created by Columbia University Irving Medical Center and may not necessarily reflect specific CUIMC practices. For medical advice to your personal condition, please consult your doctor. Medical advice disclaimer.

Cuts

Cuts

Overview

Types of cuts

Check Your Symptoms

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

Try Home Treatment

Seek Care Now

Seek Care Today

Call 911 Now

Call 911 Now

Self-Care

Need for stitches

Need for a tetanus shot

When to call for help during self-care

Learn more

Preparing For Your Appointment

Related Information

Credits

Topic Contents