Everyday cuts and grazes: how to care for wounds

Neglecting proper wound care can lead to scars, something we’re all keen to avoid. These tips will help prevent infection and support proper healing.

There’s no doubt about it – unless you’re living in a mattress-lined room, our skin cops a battering on almost a daily basis.

Grazes, scratches, bruises, burns, cuts and bites can play havoc with the appearance of our skin.

While you should see a doctor when it comes to animal bites, deep cuts or wounds that bleed excessively or fail to heal, most minor cuts and grazes can be treated at home, with a few simple steps to promote healing:

1. Stop the bleeding

One of Australia’s leading children’s hospital advises the most important thing to do is to try and stop the bleeding.

Use a clean, dry cloth to apply pressure directly to the wound.

2. Elevate your limb

If the cut or graze is on an arm or leg (hello – scraped knees!), try elevating the limb above heart level while you’re applying pressure.

This will help to slow the flow of blood and gives you time to take a breath. Apply pressure for five minutes.

3. Rinse the wound

Once the bleeding has stopped or slowed, rinse the wound and surrounding area with water. By cleaning it thoroughly, you’ll reduce the risk of infection.

If you can see any dirt or debris use tweezers (clean them first with hot water, alcohol swabs or sanitiser) to remove any particles.

4. Replace skin flaps

We know, sounds gross but the reality of many cuts or slices is there’s often that annoying flap of skin that you don’t quite know what to do with.

After drying your wound by patting the surrounding skin, replace any skin flaps over the wound with a moist cotton bud or pad.

5. Cover the wound

It is important to know that a moist wound healing environment is ideal. This will aid in reducing the healing time, be less painful and mean the wound is less likely to scar¹.

OPSITE Post-Op by Smith & Nephew is Australia’s leading waterproof dressing.²

OPSITE is easy-to-apply², and easy to remove,^3,4 and uses a low allergy adhesive that may help to minimise the risk of skin irritation.⁵

OPSITE Post-Op uses REACTIC film technology which allows excess moisture to evaporate which may help to minimise the risk of maceration⁶.

In simple terms, it helps to prevent skin damage due to moisture evaporation.

The dressings can stay on your skin for up to seven days, making them perfect for not only the little people in your life, but the busy, big people too!

* This post is brought to you by Smith & Nephew OPSITE Post-Op. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

¹ Winter G. Formation of the scab and the rate if epithelialisation of superficial wounds in the skin of a young domestic pig. Nature 1962; 193:293-294.

² IQVIA Waterproof adhesive dressings scan data Dec 2022.

³ Jester R, Russell L, Fell S, Williams S, Prest C. A one hospital study of the effect of wound dressings and other related factors on skin blistering following total hip and knee arthroplasty. Orthop Nurs. 2000; 4 (2):71-77.

⁴ Leal A, Kirby P. Blister formation on primary wound closure sites: A comparison of two dressings. Wounds UK. 2008; 4: 31-37.

⁵ Smith+Nephew 2018. Low allergy adhesive claims support for OPSITE POST-OP. Internal Report. PSS305.

⁶ Smith+Nephew 2009. OPSITE POST-OP Dressing Physical Properties. Internal Report. DS/08/149/R3.