How to clean off a cut and prevent infection?

G

GarageBoy

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May 23, 2003
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Well, a dull box cutter went a knife bevel's depth into my ring finger on my left hand and creating a 1/2 inch cut across. Bleeding stopped, but it's still a tad numb and sore. How do I keep the cut clean and promote quick healing?
 
Use an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin and keep the wound covered. Wash the wound regularly and let it dry before rebandaging.
 
I usually use iodine cream. dries it up and keeps it infection free.
 
Hydrogen peroxide over the wound, then noesporin and cover with bandage or bandaid for several days without removing it unless it gets dirty, wet is okay as in taking a shower.

Alternative I have used is Peroxide to flush it, vitamin E [ liquid capsule ] poured into the cut, bandage as needed.

If it is healing slowly, vitamin E will heal it quickly, reapply as necessary.

Brownie
 
Wow this place never ceases to amaze me. I never would have thought to log onto the forums to get first aid advice. I would've just done a google search or gone to my first aid kit and slapped on some first aid cream and a band aid until I could get to the pharmacist at the drug store.
 
definately use antibiotic cream.
And keep it covered.
And don't pick at it,
and keep it clean
 
brownie0486 said:
Hydrogen peroxide over the wound, then noesporin and cover with bandage or bandaid for several days without removing it unless it gets dirty, wet is okay as in taking a shower.
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This is about as good as it gets.., but I wanted to add that Neosporin is a product that promotes and allergic reaction for some, so if you have never used it, I'd keep an eye on the healing progress carefully, and rebandage it daily afterwards.

If there is any chance that this wound touched bone.., be particulary watchful for any symptom of infection. Bone infections are NO JOKE!

Hope it heals quickly!
 
No where near the bone. It's diagonally cut in and all I see is the inner layers of skin
 
brownie0486 said:
Hydrogen peroxide over the wound, then noesporin and cover with bandage or bandaid for several days without removing it unless it gets dirty, wet is okay as in taking a shower.

Alternative I have used is Peroxide to flush it, vitamin E [ liquid capsule ] poured into the cut, bandage as needed.

If it is healing slowly, vitamin E will heal it quickly, reapply as necessary.

Brownie
Click to expand...

I just did exactly this (minus the vitamin E part) for a little cut I got from the wood saw on my Swisstool last week. After a few days of a bandaid and Neosporin it's almost healed, and not sore at all. I've always been too lazy to treat cuts properly before, this one healed a lot quicker than the ones I didn't treat. Definitely go for the antibiotic and peroxide until it's closed over the whole way.
 
There's no shame it that at all...it's how we deal with it that sets us apart... ;)

As an example, when I get home in the evening, after a day of using my EDC, (at this time a 50/50 Spyderco Delica), within an hour or so I've given the knife a few passes on the old ceramic rods...for tomorrows use you see...

A sharp cut heals faster than a dull one is my philosophy(sp?), and I'd rather heal fast, if you get my drift...

That said, a few weeks back, I nicked my left index finger pretty good, just back behind the nail, across the knuckle, a semi-circle a half inch long and a 1/16th inch deep...a good 'bleeder' if you will...

Direct pressure, some Neosporine ointment, some spray on blood clotter, and a semi-tight bandaid did the immediate trick, and over the course of the next few days replaced the bandaid with a fresh one after another treatment of Neosporine, this after cleansing the wound with soap and water...

Here it is a few weeks later, with no scar, no ill effects, and life is good.

I know, my petty wound sounds trifle, but I carry deeper scars from lesser wounds...this simply because I didn't treat them well in the first place...

Live well, cut deep, use a sharp blade...and knife enthusiast, 'heal thy self'...;)

Mel
 
Melvin-Purvis said:
There's no shame it that at all...it's how we deal with it that sets us apart... ;)


Mel
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Well...this cut I was ashamed of.......99 cent razor blade. 13 stitches.
 

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GarageBoy said:
No where near the bone. It's diagonally cut in and all I see is the inner layers of skin
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Cool :).., you're in good shape then. I only mentioned the allergic reaction to Neosporin because it does happen (but not common obviously).

Should be fine just following what's mentioned above... :)
 
That's OK, Collucci can cut himself all he wants. He's an EMT, so he knows exactly how to treat it. Cutting himself is, like, practice for actually treating people on the job. :p

I never cut myself.

Anymore.

Until next time ...
 
I hit the cut with peroxide until the peroxide quits bubbling, rinse with hot water, pat dry, then apply neosporin and bandage. Works great, and I have never had a knife cut infected in 14 years of regular EDC use. :D
 
If the cut is very deep, consider seeing a doctor. Tendon injuries and osteomyelitis (bone infection) are serious complications of deep wounds. Oral antibiotics and stitches are usually necessary for a deep wound.

Don't put greasy antibiotic lotions in a deep wound.

If it is superficial: keep the wound clean. I like to use hydrogen peroxide. It doesn't sting or stain clothes or bedding. Tincture of merthiolate will also work.

Keep the wound edges apposed (pulled together) with a bandaid or steristrips.

If it remains painful or gets progressively red (infection), see a doctor.
 
No swelling or redness yet. How do you define deep? It's shallow, but it went in diagonally a bit.
 
You better hope your mom doesn't see that! That won't help your blades make a comeback any time soon. :eek: :) ;) If it went diagonally in but stayed toward the dermis (as in it didn't go down at a sharp angle) and it isn't too deep, which is hard to define, it should be okay if you keep it treated, clean it well, and change the dressings as needed. If it starts to pus for a while and won't heal (about a month or so) you might need some anti-biotics, in which case you'd have to tell your mom. Hopefully the neosporin or bacitracin or iodine or whatever you want to use does the trick.
 
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