How to prevent a small cut from turning into a dangerous infection
By Laura Entis
You get a scratch when cutting an onion and you bleed. Or you bump the table and scrape your shin. There are endless ways to injure your skin. And as we age, our body is less effective at healing, which increases the likelihood that these wounds will not heal.
Why healing slows down with age
Over time, skin becomes thinner, less elastic, and breaks more easily, says Peter Abadir, MD, associate professor of geriatrics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Sun damage exacerbates the problem, making the skin on your arms, shins, backs of your hands, and other areas commonly exposed to sunlight especially delicate.
Skin cells that produce keratin also lose their ability to divide over time, says Dr. Elof Eriksson, professor emeritus of plastic surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston. And deficiencies of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, vitamin C and zinc can also slow healing, experts say.
Medications can influence
Anti-inflammatories, including steroids and pain relievers like ibuprofen, can slow recovery because “the first phase of wound healing is inflammation,” Abadir says. “If you block inflammation, you delay wound healing.”
When to go to the doctor
If the wound is large, usually larger than 2×2 inches, or deep enough that it extends beyond the skin, you should see a doctor, says Dr. Elof Eriksson, professor emeritus at Harvard Medical School. . Smaller, less complicated wounds should disappear within two weeks. That said, if a minor cut or scrape doesn’t improve in the way or time frame you’d expect, “then you should seek medical attention,” says Dr. David Margolis, director of the skin ulcer program at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia.
If you’re not sure, or if the wound is swollen, red, or painful, consider at least sending a photo to your doctor, says Johns Hopkins physician Peter Abadir.
Blood thinners can also slow recovery, says physician Caroline Fife, director of St. Luke’s Wound Clinic in The Woodlands, Texas.
Never stop taking a medication without first consulting your doctor.
The right treatment
For a dirty cut or scrape, start by gently cleaning it with liquid soap and tap water. Next, pat it dry and apply a bandage that “creates a moist healing environment,” explains Eriksson. It is important to retain some moisture because this keeps the skin cells on the top and edge of the wound alive and helps the area heal.
If a wound oozes, wrap it in something absorbent, such as a foam bandage, says Eriksson. For drier wounds, breathable bandages like Tegaderm work well, he adds, while gauze can dry out the area.
Dry bandages like gauze can also end up damaging the surrounding skin when removed, so if you use one, consider also using Vaseline or a wound gel to prevent the bandage from sticking, Fife says.
Topical antibiotics are not always helpful, and “a lot of people are allergic to them,” Fife says. “If a wound looks infected, it is best to see a doctor.”
When the wounds don’t go away
In general, a wound is considered chronic if it does not heal within 30 days, or “as long as it does not heal in the [plazo de tiempo] that you think should be cured,” says Margolis.
If you suffer from a chronic disease associated with skin ulcers, such as diabetes or vascular diseases, “talk to your doctor to help you understand what is happening and minimize or prevent them,” says Margolis. Sometimes these ulcers can be prevented before they occur.
Editor’s note: This article was also published in the September 2023 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2023, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a fair, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2023, Consumer Reports, Inc.