Common Acute Wounds (For Patients & Caregivers)

What is this wound? The skin rubs against the ground or a rough surface, damaging the top layer or part of the layer beneath. It usually hurts, bleeds a little, and often has dirt or grit in it.

What can you do first? Wash your hands. Press clean gauze directly on the wound to stop the bleeding. Rinse well with clean running water. Remove any grit that comes off easily. Cover with a clean non-stick dressing.

What NOT to do: Do not scrub hard. Do not put herbs, powders, or home remedies on it. Do not keep washing it with harsh antiseptic liquids. Do not dig out grit that is embedded deep in the skin.

When to see a doctor: The scrape is very large or deep; dirt cannot be cleaned out; it is on the face, near the eye, or over a major joint; pain, redness, or oozing keeps increasing; there is fever or a red streak spreading outward; or you are not sure whether you need a tetanus shot.

How to watch it afterward: Check daily for size, pain, redness, swelling, oozing, odor, and fever. Getting smaller, hurting less, and oozing less usually means it is improving.

What is this wound? Caused by something sharp like a knife blade, glass, or metal. The edges are usually clean, but the cut may go deep enough to injure blood vessels, nerves, tendons, or deeper tissue.

What can you do first? Press clean gauze firmly and continuously on the cut to stop the bleeding. Raise the injured part if there is no concern about a broken bone. Once the bleeding stops, rinse with running water and cover with a clean dressing. Note when the injury happened and what caused it.

What NOT to do: Do not keep lifting the gauze to peek. If the first layer of gauze soaks through, do not peel it off — add more on top and keep pressing. Do not glue a deep cut shut yourself. Do not trim off any tissue yourself.

When to see a doctor: Still bleeding after pressure; the cut is deep, long, or the edges gape open; you cannot bend or straighten the part, or it feels numb; it is on the face, palm, a joint, or the genitals; it was caused by something dirty, rusty, or by glass; or it may need stitches, a tetanus assessment, or imaging.

How to watch it afterward: Watch for re-bleeding, the wound opening up, or changes in pain, redness, and oozing. If a bandaged finger or toe turns white, purple, cold, or numb, loosen the too-tight dressing right away and seek medical care.

What is this wound? The skin is torn open by pulling, a blow, or an irregular object. The edges are ragged, and there may be a flap of skin, bruising, dirt, and damage to deeper tissue.

What can you do first? Press to stop the bleeding. Rinse gently with running water. Keep any skin flap that is still attached. Cover lightly with a moist, non-stick dressing and get medical care promptly.

What NOT to do: Do not cut off a lifted skin flap. Do not force it back into place or try to stitch it yourself. Do not put powders or home remedies on it. Do not ignore possible tendon or nerve injury.

When to see a doctor: The edges are ragged, clearly gaping, or there is a skin flap; the wound is deep or tissue is exposed; there is ongoing bleeding, numbness, or trouble moving; it is on the face, hand, a joint, or thin-skinned areas; or the person is elderly or has fragile skin.

How to watch it afterward: Watch the skin flap's color, temperature, oozing, and pain. If the flap turns dark, black, or cold, or the redness and swelling spread quickly, return to care promptly.

What is this wound? A sharp pointed object — a nail, needle, or splinter — pierces the skin. The opening on the surface may be tiny, but the deep part can be contaminated or damaged.

What can you do first? Wash your hands and control the bleeding. Rinse the surface with running water and cover it. Note what pierced the skin, how deep, when it happened, and whether it went through shoes, socks, or clothing. Have your tetanus shot needs checked early.

What NOT to do: Do not dig into the wound with anything sharp. Do not pull out a deep or large embedded object yourself. Do not dismiss it just because the opening is small. Do not seal a possibly contaminated deep wound shut yourself.

When to see a doctor: Punctured by a nail or something dirty or rusty; on the sole of the foot, the palm, or near a joint; something may still be inside; a nail went through a shoe sole into the foot; deep pain, swelling, or numbness; you have diabetes, poor circulation, or weakened immunity; or your tetanus vaccination history is unclear.

How to watch it afterward: Even if the surface closes, keep watching for deep pain, swelling, warmth, pus, and fever — symptoms can show up days later.

What is this wound? A bite from a person or an animal. Teeth can puncture, tear, or crush, and carry mouth germs deep into the tissue.

What can you do first? Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with plenty of soap and running water. Press to stop the bleeding and cover it. Note the type of animal, its owner, its vaccination status, and the time and place. Get assessed promptly for infection, tetanus, and rabies risk. For scratches or bites from wild, stray, or unknown animals, wash right away and seek medical care promptly.

What NOT to do: Do not ignore it just because the wound is small. Do not stitch or glue it shut yourself. Do not handle possibly sick wild animals with bare hands. Do not wait for symptoms before getting the rabies risk assessed.

When to see a doctor: Bites from a person, a cat, or a wild animal; bites on the hand, face, head or neck, a joint, or the genitals; deep bites, ongoing bleeding, or trouble moving; the animal is unknown or acting strangely; the injured person is a young child, elderly, diabetic, or immunocompromised; or there is redness, warmth, pus, or fever.

How to watch it afterward: Watch whether redness spreads, pain increases, or pus, fever, or a red streak along the lymph vessels appears. Follow instructions to track the animal and complete any needed vaccines.

What is this wound? Caused by flames, hot objects, chemicals, electricity, or hot liquids. You may see redness, swelling, and pain, blisters, or skin that has turned white or charred black.

What can you do first? Get away from the heat source. Run cool water over the burn for about 20 minutes (no ice, ice water, creams, or oils). Remove rings and watches before swelling starts, but do not peel off clothing stuck to the skin. After cooling, cover loosely with a clean non-stick dressing. Watch for children and the elderly getting too cold.

What NOT to do: No ice. No toothpaste, soy sauce, butter, powders, or home remedies. Do not pop blisters. Do not peel off stuck clothing. Do not wrap tightly.

When to see a doctor: The burn is large, extremely painful, or the skin looks white or charred black; it is on the face, eyes, hands, feet, genitals, groin, or a major joint; it is a chemical, electrical, or inhalation injury; it goes all the way around a limb or the chest; the person is an infant, elderly, or immunocompromised; or there is trouble breathing, a hoarse voice, facial burns, or singed nose hairs.

How to watch it afterward: Watch the blisters, pain, swelling, oozing, skin color, and body temperature. A burn can get deeper within hours — if it worsens, seek medical care.

What is this wound? Caused by being squeezed or crushed by a heavy object, machinery, or a car door. The surface may show only a bruise or a small wound, but the muscle, blood vessels, nerves, or bone underneath can be damaged.

What can you do first? Make sure the scene is safe and remove the source of pressure. Press to control any bleeding. Keep the injured part still. For a mild injury with no open wound, you can apply a cold pack wrapped in cloth for a short time. For anything more than mild, seek medical care promptly.

What NOT to do: Do not massage it. Do not force a deformed limb back into position. Do not assume the deep tissue is fine just because the surface wound is small. Do not try to handle exposed bone yourself.

When to see a doctor: Obvious swelling, deformity, severe pain, or inability to bear weight; numbness or weakness; fingers or toes turning white, purple, or cold; a deep wound, exposed bone, or heavy bleeding; being trapped under pressure for a long time; or crush injury to the chest, abdomen, head, or pelvis.

How to watch it afterward: Watch whether pain and swelling are increasing quickly, and check skin color, temperature, feeling, and movement. If the limb feels tighter and tighter, or pain or numbness gets much worse, seek medical care immediately.

What is this wound? A small fluid-filled pocket that forms under the top layer of skin after rubbing, pressure, a burn, or other irritation.

What can you do first? Clean the skin around it. Remove whatever is causing the rubbing or pressure. Leave the blister roof intact. Cover with a non-stick dressing or a protective pad. If it bursts on its own, clean it, keep any skin still attached, and cover it again.

What NOT to do: Do not pop it. Do not tear off skin that is still attached. Do not keep wearing the shoes or socks that caused the rubbing. Do not let anything unclean touch a burst blister.

When to see a doctor: The blister is very large, very painful, or keeps coming back; it is on a diabetic foot or a foot with poor circulation; there is pus, spreading redness, warmth, or fever; it was caused by a burn, chemicals, or electricity; or you do not know what caused it.

How to watch it afterward: Watch whether the fluid turns cloudy, the surrounding skin gets red and swollen, or the pain increases. An intact blister is usually reabsorbed slowly; if it bursts, watch for infection.

What is this wound? A wound from a surgical incision, which may be closed with stitches, skin staples, or tissue glue. Your surgical team's instructions always come first.

What can you do first? Follow your instructions for dressing changes, bathing, and activity. Wash your hands before and after touching the dressing. Keep the dressing clean. Take medicines and keep appointments on schedule. Support and protect the wound when coughing or moving, as instructed.

What NOT to do: Do not remove stitches, skin staples, drains, or tissue glue yourself. Do not use ointments, antiseptics, or home remedies without approval. Do not soak in a bath or swim until allowed. Do not lift heavy things or do activities that pull on the wound.

When to see a doctor: Bleeding that continues, or the dressing soaks through quickly; the wound splits open; a clear increase in redness, swelling, pain, oozing, or odor; pus, fever, or chills; a drain that falls out, gets blocked, or suddenly changes output; or chest pain, trouble breathing, or confusion after surgery (an emergency).

How to watch it afterward: Check the wound edges, area of redness, amount and color of drainage, pain, and temperature at about the same time each day. Mild bruising or a little oozing should gradually improve — not keep increasing.

What is this wound? A wound whose edges are held together with stitches or skin staples so the tissue can heal in the right position.

What can you do first? Keep it dry or clean as instructed. Change the dressing as instructed if it gets wet, dirty, or falls off. Avoid pulling on the wound. Return on the scheduled dates for follow-up, dressing changes, and stitch or staple removal. Note any changes in redness, pain, and oozing.

What NOT to do: Do not cut or pull out stitches or staples yourself. Do not scratch or pick at scabs or tug on thread ends. Do not apply medicines that were not prescribed. Do not skip the scheduled removal date.

When to see a doctor: Stitches or staples come out early; the edges split open; bleeding will not stop or a lump under the skin grows quickly; pus, a bad smell, fever, or worsening pain; the skin around the stitches gets redder, more swollen, and tighter; or the limb becomes numb, cold, or moves abnormally.

How to watch it afterward: Check that the edges stay together, the stitches or staples are intact, and the redness, pain, and oozing improve day by day. Have stitches or staples removed on schedule as directed.

What is this wound? A wound that has healed enough for the stitches or staples to come out, but has not regained full strength. It looks closed on the surface, while the deeper tissue is still repairing.

What can you do first? Leave any paper tape or wound-closure strips on as instructed. Keep the area clean and pat it dry gently. Return to activity gradually. Avoid pulling or bumping the area. Follow instructions for scar care and sun protection.

What NOT to do: Do not jump straight into hard exercise, stretching, or heavy lifting. Do not peel off closure strips that have not fallen off on their own. Do not pick scabs or rub the new skin. Do not assume there is no risk of reopening just because the surface looks closed.

When to see a doctor: The wound reopens or bleeds; a lump under the wound grows quickly; redness, swelling, pain, oozing, or odor increases; fever or pus; or loss of feeling around the area or trouble moving it.

How to watch it afterward: Check that it stays closed. A new scar that is a bit red, firm, or itchy at first is common and usually settles over time. If it stays raised, painful, or limits movement, return for assessment.