Everyone deals with bumps and bruises from time to time, but when does a minor scratch become major? Is there a difference between a cut and a scratch? Does that even matter? This post covers various wounds, general care and what to watch out for, and might help prepare you for the next time you have a minor, or even major, accident or surgery that leaves a wound.
Types of wounds
In general, there are five different kinds of wounds:
abrasions, contusions, incisions, lacerations and punctures.
Abrasions occur when the top layer of skin is rubbed
or scraped off. Think of a friction burn from sliding across carpet or skinning
your knee from falling outside.
Contusions occur from blunt force trauma and don’t
break the skin. Think of a normal, everyday bruise. There are three different
kinds of contusions: subcutaneous, which are surface bruises; muscular, which
can occur on or within a muscle; or periosteal, also known as a bone bruise.
Incisions are neat and clean cuts to the skin from a
sharp object. Think of a cut from a knife, glass or another sharp object. The
key here is it’s a smooth, clean cut and the edges of the wound are not rough
and jagged. While incisions can be a result of an accidental cut, this is most
common after a planned surgical procedure.
Lacerations are similar to an incision in that the
skin is cut or torn open. The big difference is the edges of the wound are
rough and jagged. This makes a difference when it comes to caring for the
wound.
Puncture wounds occur when something pokes through
the surface of the skin. Think of an animal bite, stepping on a nail or even
receiving a shot.
General Care
Although most of these wounds are somewhat similar, they do
require slightly different care than simply applying a bandage and calling it a
day.
Always start by cleaning an abrasion with clean running
water, allowing the flow of the water to clear away any debris in the wound.
Exercise caution when trying to remove anything lodged in the wound such as
gravel or hair, as this may further aggravate the wound. Once the wound is
clean, apply an antibacterial ointment and cover with a non-stick bandage or
pad.
For a contusion, keep R.I.C.E. in mind: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevate. Make sure not to wrap the contusion too tightly, which can
cut off your circulation. If necessary, take an over-the-counter pain reliever
like aspirin or ibuprofen to help with pain, inflammation and swelling.
Incisions, lacerations and punctures can be treated in much
the same way: clean the area, apply antibacterial ointment to aid the healing
process, and cover with a bandage to keep it clean and free of debris.
Further Treatment
Go to an urgent care clinic or emergency room for further treatment for any of the following reasons:
Go to an urgent care clinic or emergency room for further treatment for any of the following reasons:
- The wound won’t stop bleeding
- It is large and/or deep
- It may require stitches
- It may be contaminated by a foreign substance
- The wound has something embedded in it
- It shows signs of infection (swelling, redness, oozing, etc.)
- You notice any other issues or troubling symptoms
Of course, if you have an emergency situation, call 911 for
further help.
Hopefully, this will help you the next time you get a minor
or major wound.
If you’re looking for more information on Mohs surgery or
post-surgical wound care, download our wound care recommendations:
Have any other questions regarding wound care? Visit our website or post your questions in
the comments below, and I’ll try to help you out!
