How to Heal Cuts
To heal a minor cut, apply gentle pressure to the wound with a cloth to stop any bleeding. Once the bleeding is under control, clean the wound and then put on some petroleum jelly to help it heal. Once you've done so, cover the cut with a clean bandage. You can help the healing process by changing this dressing daily or whenever it gets wet or dirty. Since sleep is crucial for recovery, try to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Remember not to pick or scratch at any scabs that form since this could set back the healing process. If your cut is deep or you can't stop the bleeding, you should get medical attention as soon as possible.
Assess your cut to determine if it needs medical attention. While you can treat most minor cuts at home, more serious cuts may need attention from a doctor. Call your doctor or head to the emergency room right away if: Your cut is deeper than.25 inches (0.64 cm) You were cut by a dirty or rusty object, such as a rusty nail You can see fat, muscle, tendons, or bone through the cut The cut is over a joint You have a deep cut on your hand or finger The cut is on your face and you are concerned that it may leave a scar The cut is bleeding a lot and the bleeding does not stop after you apply pressure for 10-15 minutes Wash your hands with soap and warm water. As soon as you can, get to a sink and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Use some gentle hand soap and water that is as warm as you can comfortably tolerate. When you're done, dry your hands with a clean towel. Washing your hands will help prevent you from introducing dirt, bacteria, or other contaminants into the cut. Press a clean cloth to the cut to stop the bleeding. If your cut is bleeding, take a clean, dry cloth or bandage and apply gentle pressure to the wound. It can also help to elevate the cut above your heart. If your cut is still bleeding after you've had pressure on it for 10 minutes, call your doctor or get to an urgent care center immediately. Rinse the cut with running water. Once the bleeding is under control, run some tap water over the cut for a few minutes. This will help rinse away any dirt or bacteria and minimize your risk of infection. If your cut has any debris in it, such as pieces of glass or gravel, remove it gently with a pair of tweezers. Clean the tweezers with alcohol first. See your doctor if there's any debris in the wound that you can't easily remove yourself. Clean around the cut with soap and water. Use some soap and water or a castile soap towelette to wash the area around the wound. Take care not to get any soap in the cut, since it could irritate the injured tissue. Don't put any hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or alcohol on your cut. This can irritate the cut and slow down the healing process. Put some petroleum jelly on the cut. Petroleum jelly will help keep the wound moist and promote faster healing. The extra moisture will also help minimize any scarring. As another option, you can put an antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, on your wound. However, petroleum jelly may be just as effective at helping the wound heal. If the wound is allowed to dry out, it will form a protective scab. Wounds that scab over may take longer to heal. If you keep your wound clean, you probably will not need to use antibiotic ointments to prevent infection. Cover the cut with a clean dressing. Once you've cleaned the cut and applied petroleum jelly, cover the wound with a clean bandage or a piece of gauze. If the dressing you choose isn't self-adhesive, you will need to hold it in place with some medical tape. Take care that the bandage adhesive or medical tape doesn't cover any part of the wound. Change the dressing once a day or whenever it gets wet or dirty. Remove the old bandage once a day and check the area to make sure it is clean. You'll need to change the bandage more frequently if it becomes soiled or gets wet. If you need to, clean the area around your cut with soap and water and reapply the petroleum jelly. Check the skin under the bandage adhesive for signs of irritation. If your skin reacts badly to the adhesives, try using paper tape and a non-adhesive gauze pad instead. Watch the cut for signs of infection. Whenever you change your dressing, examine your cut closely. Visit your doctor if you see any symptoms of infection, such as: Redness or swelling around the cut Increasing pain at the site of the cut Yellow or green pus or clear fluid oozing from the wound An unpleasant odor Avoid picking or scratching any scabs that form. If your wound does form a scab, resist the urge to pick at it or scratch it. Doing so could tear off the scab and break or irritate the new skin forming underneath, delaying the healing process and increasing your chances of developing a scar. Put sunscreen on the wound after it heals to minimize scarring. Once your cut is mostly healed, put a little sunscreen on it or cover it with protective clothing (such as long sleeves or pants) to minimize sun exposure. This can help reduce discoloration and scarring in the area. Choose a gentle, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. See your doctor if the cut hasn’t healed in 30 days. While not all cuts will be fully healed within 30 days (especially large or deep ones), you should definitely see clear signs of healing by then. Make an appointment with your doctor if your wound isn't partially or fully healed within a month. They can help you determine what's causing the delayed healing and come up with a treatment plan. Stay hydrated. Drinking enough water is always vital to your health, but it's especially important while you're waiting for a wound to heal. Drink at least.4 gallons (1.5 L) per day to help your cut heal as quickly as possible. You don't have to get all your fluids from water. You can also get fluids from other beverages (such as juice or milk) and certain foods (such as soup or even juicy fruits and vegetables). Eat power foods to promote healing. Eating a balanced, nutritious diet can also help your cut heal faster. Try to eat foods that are rich in protein, such as lean meats, eggs, milk, Greek yogurt, nuts, and soy products (like tofu or soy milk). You can also benefit from eating foods rich in certain vitamins and minerals: Get vitamin C from fruits and vegetables, such as citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, peppers, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Eat plenty of vitamin A-rich foods, including leafy green vegetables (such as spinach or mustard greens), orange and yellow vegetables (such as bell peppers or yellow cauliflower), cantaloupe, liver, and some fortified cereals and dairy products. Incorporate good sources of zinc into your diet, such as red meats, seafood, and fortified cereals. Get 7-9 hours of good quality sleep each night. Sleep is crucial for helping your body recover from life's daily stresses, and it can also speed up the healing of cuts and other wounds. While your wound is healing, make sure to: Go to bed early enough so that you can sleep for 7-9 hours (or 8-10 hours if you're a teen). Avoid using caffeine and other stimulants in the last few hours before bedtime. Turn off all bright screens and do something relaxing (like a taking a warm shower or doing a little meditation) about an hour before bedtime. Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and comfortable. Get exercise. Getting regular aerobic exercise can improve your circulation and speed up the healing process. While your cut is healing, try to get at least 20-30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. This could include activities such as walking, jogging, or biking. If you're not sure what kind of exercise is appropriate or safe for you, talk to your doctor. If you don't have time during the day to put in 30 minutes of exercise all at once, you can split it up into 3 10-minute exercise sessions. For example, you could take a short walk before breakfast, another during your lunch break, and a third after dinner. Avoid smoking. Using tobacco can slow down the healing process. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about how to cut back or quit altogether. This will not only help your cut heal faster, but will improve your overall health! If you're having a hard time cutting back or quitting, your doctor may be able to prescribe medications to help you manage your nicotine cravings. 
Assess your cut to determine if it needs medical attention. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Press a clean cloth to the cut to stop the bleeding. Rinse the cut with running water. Clean around the cut with soap and water. Put some petroleum jelly on the cut. Cover the cut with a clean dressing. Change the dressing once a day or whenever it gets wet or dirty. Watch the cut for signs of infection. Avoid picking or scratching any scabs that form. Put sunscreen on the wound after it heals to minimize scarring. See your doctor if the cut hasn’t healed in 30 days. Stay hydrated. Eat power foods to promote healing. Get 7-9 hours of good quality sleep each night. Get exercise. Avoid smoking. 