How To Treat An Infected Cut

Cuts are breaks in the skin that cause bleeding. Depending on the depth of the cut and the amount of bleeding it triggers, a cut can be a simple injury that responds well to treatment at home. However, if severe bleeding occurs or if the cut is deep or dirty, the patient may need stitches or other treatment at an urgent care facility or hospital. Patients who have any type of cut should be aware of potential signs of infection, including warmth or swelling at the affected site. Two of the major indicators of infection are the presence of pus and the appearance of redness that starts around the edges of the cut and spreads outwards. If these signs occur, the patient should have the cut evaluated by a medical professional.

Clean Wound Completely

One of the most important steps in infection control is to clean the wound completely. This should be done immediately after the cut. First, doctors recommend holding the injured area under running water for a few minutes, as this can help reduce or stop bleeding. Next, the skin around the wound should be washed with warm, soapy water and a soft washcloth, and some patients may want to clean the wound by applying an antiseptic spray. To avoid irritation, soap should not be placed directly on the cut itself.

Most importantly, doctors advise individuals to never apply alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or hand sanitizer to a cut, as this can damage the surrounding tissues and reduce the speed at which the cut heals. When cleaning the wound, patients should check for any dirt or foreign objects embedded in the cut. This is especially important if the cut is deep. While it may be possible to remove small pieces of debris with tweezers at home, it is often safest to have debris removed by a medical professional.

Apply Antibiotic Ointment

After cleaning the wound, it can be helpful to apply antibiotic ointment before bandaging the area. These ointments are readily available as over-the-counter medications at drugstores across the United States. Most antibiotic ointments contain three different antibiotics, with neomycin, bacitracin, and polymyxin the most common ones. Some of the newest formulations also contain a mild pain reliever that can help reduce pain at the injured area.

Antibiotic creams can generally be applied three to four times a day, and they should be applied in a thin layer and only over small areas of the body. Patients should not use these ointments for cuts on or around the eyes. Due to the possibility of drug interactions, individuals taking aminoglycoside antibiotics, including gentamicin, will need to ask a doctor or pharmacist before using an antibiotic cream.