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Grazes: you can treat most cuts and grazes at home but beware of the danger signs

The majority of cuts and grazes are sufficiently small that you can deal with them at home. The most important thing to do if you or someone you know has a cut or graze on their skin is to clean the area. Water from a tap is usually good.

But what if there is bleeding from the cut or graze? First you need to stop the bleeding and you can do this usually using a plaster, or if it is a bigger cut then a towel can be useful.

The patient (that is, the person who has cut or grazed themself) may need to lie down.

Make sure that the plaster or dressing you apply is clean and sterile, and change it as often as is required.

Usually a cut or graze will heal of its own accord but what if it is a more serious injury, or doesn't heal? This is where you need to consider seeing your doctor. If you cut or graze is in a difficult to heal part of your body, bleeds a lot, may have been caused by an animal or insect bite, is dirty and can't be cleaned, or is very deep. Doctors will be able tell if there is a risk of infection and have access to specialist equipment like X-ray machines.

If your cut or graze is more severe and can not be treated with a normal plaster they may decide you need stitches - these use surgical thread to sew the wound together. A more modern approach is to use glue, much like superglue, that binds the wound together. Skin closure strips are also helpful as they are flexible and able to deal with larger wounds than normal plasters.

The other risk, is tetanus - you may need a tetanus booster jab, and if your graze is infected there may be a requirement for antibiotics.

The worst sorts of grazes involve the loss of skin from the affected area, and it may be necessary in extreme cases to have a skin graft where skin is taken from another part of your body and put over the injured area.

Public Health and Safety : First Aid

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