How to treat a cut – Cut your finger or hand? Don’t worry! Heal your cut faster with three easy steps: Cleanse – Protect – Heal. Also, find out how to stop the bleeding, recognise infections and when a cut may need stitches.

While preparing dinner, repairing things, or gardening, cuts can happen to all of us. A cut is an opening in the skin caused by a sharp object like a knife, a work tool or even a piece of paper. A cut may penetrate deep into the skin, which could lead to strong bleeding and leave a scar.

 

 

Apply slight pressure to the cut using a sterile compress or clean piece of cloth. It’s best not to use cotton wool or other materials that could stick to the wound. A cut that you can treat at home should stop bleeding after a few minutes. If the bleeding continues, apply more gauze pads, keep the pressure on the wound and seek medical attention.

A clean wound is the first step to optimal healing. Cleanse the cut from dirt and bacteria with the Hansaplast Wound Spray to prevent infections fast and pain-free. Gently dry the wound and surrounding area. If you're helping someone, make sure you wash your hands first and wear disposable surgical gloves.

The second step is to protect your cut from dirt and bacteria to prevent infection and promote healing. Cover your cut with a plaster or sterile wound dressing. If it’s a larger area, use a sterile compress and fix it in place using tape or a bandage.

In a third step, you can support your skin healing the wound safe, fast and with a lower risk of scars. Apply the Hansaplast Wound Healing Ointment regularly until your wound has healed completely. The ointment creates a breathable, protective film that helps wounds heal up to 2x faster than untreated wounds.

Most cuts usually heal within 5 to 10 days. But the healing time depends on many factors, such as the depth of the cut, its size and your age. Read more about wound healing.

If the bleeding is strong and does not stop despite applying pressure or if the wound is deep, large or wide, it is likely that the wound may need stitches. Apply a pressure bandage by covering the wound with a sterile compress and fix it with a gauze bandage, then consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Children can be particularly anxious when they cut themselves. Here’s how to care for little people’s cuts:

• Reassure. Stay calm and reassure the child that everything will be fine. 
• Distract. Take their mind off the pain with a toy, treat or interesting thing to look at. 
• Make treatment exciting. For example, use a colourful kid’s plaster with their favourite Disney character on it. 
• Minimise pain. When cleansing the wound, apply a wound spray without alcohol or iodine, so it doesn’t burn.
• Prevent. Help children avoid cuts by providing them with age-appropriate scissors and knives and restrict access to sharp objects.