The small hazards that can lead to cuts and scrapes are a part of everyday life, but with summer just around the corner, your feet are more prone to these types of small injuries. Walking around barefoot is never a good idea, but if you choose to do so, be conscious of where you are walking and most importantly what you are walking on. Immediate medical attention should be sought out for wounds that are deep, bleed heavily, or have a foreign object embedded in them.
For minor cuts your first step should be to stop the bleeding. Gently apply firm, direct pressure using a clean cloth or gauze. Continue to hold the pressure steadily. Next you will want to clean the cut. Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water before cleaning the cut. Rinse your cut with cool water to remove dirt and debris. Use soap to clean out the wound. Using stronger cleaning solutions such as hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol may irritate the wound. Alcohol dries the skin which can slow healing and hydrogen peroxide inhibits the growth of healthy cells. Plain old soap and water will do the trick!
Once your cut is clean pat it dry with a clean cloth. Apply a first aid antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, and cover the area with a Band-Aid to help prevent infections and dirt getting into the wound. You should clean your wound once or twice daily, wash the area gently with soap and water, apply an antibiotic cream and recover with bandage.
If you cannot control the bleeding from a cut or scrape you should seek medical attention immediately. Any cut that goes beyond the top layer of skin or is deep enough to see into might need stitches and should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible. Ignored or infected scrapes and cuts can lead to major medical problems down the road. If you think you may have a scrape or cut that needs medical attention, call Cornerstone Foot & Ankle today!