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For superficial cut injury management

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NHS cuts and grazes first aid treatment when urgent care

For a small superficial cut:
  1. Wash your hands or use gloves if available.
  2. Stop bleeding: Apply firm, direct pressure with clean gauze or cloth for 5-10 minutes. Elevate the area if practical.
  3. Rinse the cut: Hold it under clean running water for several minutes. Gently wash surrounding skin with soap. Remove only loose, visible dirt with clean tweezers.
  4. Do not put turmeric, toothpaste, powder, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or strong antiseptics into the wound. These can irritate tissue and delay healing.
  5. Protect it: Pat dry, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, then cover with a sterile plaster/bandage. Change it daily or whenever wet or dirty.
  6. Monitor: Mild soreness is expected. Keep the area clean and avoid repeatedly picking off the scab. Minor cuts usually heal within several days. Guidance for basic home care is consistent with Mayo Clinic first aid advice.
Get urgent medical care now if bleeding will not stop after 10-15 minutes of continuous firm pressure, blood spurts, the cut is deep/gaping, there is numbness or difficulty moving the part, or there is glass/metal/other material embedded in it.
Seek medical advice if it is an animal or human bite, a dirty/puncture wound, or if infection develops: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, worsening pain, fever, or red streaks.
Tetanus: Check vaccination status. A booster may be needed for dirty wounds if the last dose was over 5 years ago, or for clean minor wounds if over 10 years ago, depending on local guidance and your immunization history.
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