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Cuts and abrasions are wounds that cause your skin to
break. Cuts can be caused by sharp object such as knives,
glass splinters. Abrasions are caused when your skin
rubs against a hard surface and it breaks. Small cuts
called scratches may be caused by needle or thorns.
Well, since the skin is pierced, bleeding occurs as
blood vessels in the skin are broken. This bleeding
stops within a few minutes and the blood forms a clot.
This clot then dries up and become a scab. The scab
usually falls of within a week or two. This scab helps
the skin to heal underneath it and new skin is seen
when the scab falls off. If you pick at the scab earlier
the wound may again start bleeding and would take longer
time to heal. The new skin initially may look lighter
but within a few months becomes of the same color as
that of your normal skin.
The first thing is to stop the bleeding. Press the bleeding
area with a clean, soft cloth. Once the bleeding stops,
wash the wound with running water and apply a Band-Aid
(if the cut is small) or an antibiotic (pronounced as
N- T - bye - O - tick) cream on the wound. Your doctor
may also give you an injection to prevent tetanus if
you haven't received it before.
For deep cuts consult your
doctor immediately as may require stitches to stop the
bleed.
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