What are wounds, cuts and grazes?

Wounds are injuries to the skin. There are different types of wounds, including:

• Cuts are neat, straight wounds in your skin.
• Lacerations are deep cuts or tears in your skin. They usually have irregular, jagged edges.
• Grazes are superficial (surface) injuries to the upper layer of your skin.
• Surgical wounds are cuts made during surgery. They are usually closed during surgery with stitches.
• Puncture wounds are deep wounds caused by a sharp pointed object penetrating the skin, such as a nail or an animal bite.
• Sometimes, sores and ulcers happen if you have not been moving enough, or because of problems with your veins, arteries or nerves. This type of wound develops slowly.

What are the symptoms of wounds, cuts and grazes?

Wounds, cuts, and grazes can be:

• swollen
• painful
• red
• bleed

When should I see my doctor?

Minor wounds usually don't need medical attention.

You should see a doctor or nurse within 2 to 6 hours if you or your child has a wound that:

• doesn't stop bleeding
• is on your eyelid or near your eye
• is dirty or happened in dirty water
• gets more painful after the first hour
• is over a joint, like your knee or knuckle
• is from a bite, whether by an animal or another person

You should also see a doctor if

• you're not sure whether your tetanus shots are up to date
• the wound is more than a few millimetres deep
• a cut is gaping — the sides of the wound don't sit together well by themselves

These kinds of wounds may need to be closed with stitches, tissue glue or staples.

You should also see a doctor if you have any signs of infection, or if your wound takes longer than 4 weeks to heal (known as a chronic wound). You can read more about infection below.

When to seek urgent care

If your wound is deep, a nurse or doctor should look at it within 2 hours.

Call an ambulance and seek urgent care if you have a wound or cut and:

• you have severe bleeding
• you feel faint, dizzy or confused
• have chest pain, or are short of breath
• it is in your eye
• you are losing consciousness (passing out)

You should also call an ambulance if you have a deep wound and:

• it doesn't stop bleeding when you put pressure on it
• you are taking blood-thinning medicines

How are wounds, cuts and grazes treated?

You can look after most wounds yourself, and they will heal themselves. However, some wounds may require treatment to help them heal and prevent infection.

First aid for wounds

The most important thing to do is to try to stop any bleeding.

If there is a lot of blood coming out of the wound (severe bleeding) use first aid:

• press down on the wound until the bleeding stops
• wrap the wound firmly with a pad, dressing, or a clean dry cloth
• if there is an object stuck in the wound, put pressure on either side of the wound and put pads around the object before bandaging it
• keep pressing on the wound until the bleeding stops
• go to the hospital emergency department as soon as possible – if you are alone, it's better to call an ambulance than drive to the hospital yourself

Call 000 for an ambulance immediately if:

• blood is spurting from the wound. Keep putting pressure on the wound.
• the wound has something sticking out of it, like glass – don't try to remove the object and keep putting pressure around the wound

Self-care at home

If you or your child have a minor wound, you can:

• press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth or bandage for 5 minutes, or until the wound stops bleeding
• wash your hands well before cleaning the wound
• clean the wound by rinsing it with clean water or saline (salt water)
• remove any dirt or debris with tweezers or a clean cloth
• dry the wound by patting the surrounding skin with a clean pad or towel
• if possible, cover the wound with a non-stick dressing, or a band aid

You can look after most minor cuts and wounds yourself, by:

• resting, so the wound does not open again
• keeping your wound clean
• covering the wound
• keeping the dressing dry and changing it every few days
• avoiding the sun if possible — wearing protective clothing

It's also important to care for yourself, as this helps wounds heal faster. You can do this by:

• eating healthy food
• avoiding smoking
• avoiding drinking too much alcohol

Avoid swimming with any cut (unless it's a small graze) until it's healed.

Medicines for wounds, cuts and grazes

If your wound is causing pain, you can take simple pain relief medicine such as paracetamol.

You can speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on the best medicine for you. Antiseptic creams are not needed.

Your doctor may give you antibiotics to prevent the wound from becoming infected.

Other treatment options

If you have a gaping wound, your doctor may need to keep it closed it with:

• stitches (sutures)
• medical staples
• medical glue
• medical tape
• special dressings

Medicare urgent care clinics can help with small cuts that need stiches or glue. Use the Service Finder to find your nearest one.

Wounds and diabetes

People with diabetes are more likely to get wounds. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor or healthcare professional about caring for wounds.

Leg or foot ulcers are the most common wounds in people with diabetes. Wounds on your feet may go unnoticed due to a loss of feeling called neuropathy. These wounds may heal more slowly due to poor blood flow and infection.

Tetanus

You should also see your doctor or nurse for a tetanus immunisation within a day if you have had a cut or abrasion and any of the following apply:

• it's more than 10 years since your last tetanus shot or you can't remember when you last had one
• you've had less than 3 tetanus immunisations in your life, or you're not sure how many you've had
• it's more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot and your wound was dirty or deep

Can wounds, cuts and grazes be prevented?

There are some things you can do to reduce your risk of wounds, such as:

• using sharp objects safely
• doing daily foot checks and seeing your podiatrist regularly if you have diabetes
• covering and protecting your skin if it's thin or fragile

For activities such as sport, gardening and crafts, be sure to wear protective gear and clothing such as:

• eye protection
• gloves
• leg protection

What are the complications of wounds, cuts and grazes?

Wounds can have some complications, such as:

• infections
• scabbing and scarring

Infections

You should see your doctor right away if you have a wound and have any signs of infection. Below are some signs of infection:

• There is redness or swelling around the wound.
• You develop a high temperature (fever).
• The wound is not healing after about 5 days.
• The wound starts oozing pus.
• The pain is getting worse.
• There is heat around the wound.

Tetanus is a potentially fatal infection that can infect most types of wounds, especially:

• those contaminated with dirt or faeces (poo)
• puncture wounds
• those caused by bites
• wounds that have foreign bodies (especially wood splinters)

Keeping up to date with your tetanus immunisation is the best way to avoid getting tetanus.

Scabbing and scarring

As your wound heals it may form a scab. Avoid picking the crust as this can cause scarring and infection — it will fall off by itself. Remind your child not to touch a wound as it heals.

All wounds can scar. Scars look red or purple in colour and thick at first but will fade to become thin and a paler colour over time.

Sometimes a scar can heal in a way that makes the scar bigger than the original cut or injury. It can become thick, raised, shiny and darker in colour than the surrounding skin, forming a keloid scar. A keloid scar can happen when the skin makes too much collagen. This type of scar is more common on the upper chest, upper back and shoulders.

Resources and support

Visit the St John's website for how to give first aid for severe bleeding.

You can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.