Cuts and grazes are all part and parcel of a normal life. You may think leaving it open and allowing the air to get to it is the best method. But that is not always true, sometimes leaving it open can increase the level of pain you feel, and may make you more susceptible to getting a scar. Depending on the severity of the injury will determine how you treat it, and if we do not care for the wound in the right way, it will take longer to heal. Below are a few peices of advice on how to deal with that cut:

How bad is the cut?

Obviously, if it is a very deep cut and won’t stop bleeding, you may need to go to the hospital and get stitches. It will be pretty clear from the amount of blood, and the depth of the cut what you need to do. So, first things first seek medical attention if the situation requires it.

Clean up the wound

Once you have been able to stop the bleeding, wash your hands, and use antiseptic gel to ensure they are sterilized. You should rinse the cut under some warm water. This should have the effect of loosening the dirt. Then clear out any dirt and debris from the wound using a cotton wall pad or a cotton cloth. You may even need to get the tweezers out and pick out anything really wedded in there. Or get someone else to do it if you are not brave enough. 

Apply an antibiotic cream or an ointment

There are many different types of creams and ointments that you could use to speed up the healing process and reduce scarring. If it is a minor injury, you may not need to, but you don’t want to be walking around with a gaping open wound for the world to see and the bugs to get in. In this scenario, you need to do something about it, Hycol™ Hydrolyzed Collagen is an excellent product for both acute and chronic wounds. So if you have an ulcer or something else that reoccurs periodically, this is for you. 

Wrap it up

If the wound is bad enough and you want that ointment to get to work, apply a bandage. You may want to apply a sterile gauze first to the wound. Then to keep it in place, wrap a sterile clean bandage over the top. The severity of the injury will determine how often you need to change the dressing. Perhaps once or twice a day.

Eat healthily and drink water

To improve your body’s ability to heal, be kind to yourself, and eat healthily, meaning balanced meals. Fruit and vegetables should be high on the shopping list. Who knows, you could use your cut to improve your health overall, by cutting calories and reducing that waistline. Drinking water is essential to allow your body to work at the optimum level. It has the effect of letting more oxygen into the places that need it.