Which wound do you have?

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  Cut

  

  Cut: An opening in the skin caused by a sharp object like a knife, work tool or even a piece of paper. A cut wound may penetrate deep into the skin, which could lead to strong bleeding and leave a scar.

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  Abrasion

  

  Abrasion: Superficial skin damage caused by scraping off the upper skin layers when falling on knees, hands or elbows or scratching over a rough surface. Often, abrasions bleed little, but they are painful and prone to infections.

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  Surgical wound

  

  Surgical wound (also known as postoperative wound): An incision in the skin during surgery. Often, doctors close surgical wounds with sutures, which are removed within 5 to 10 days.

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  Blister

  

  Blister: An area of raised skin, where body fluid fills the space between upper and lower skin layers. Often caused by friction and pressure, a blister is very painful and, if popped, can be prone to infections.

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  Scratch

  

  Scratch: A surface damage to the skin caused when objects such as a fingernail or thorn, scrapes along the skin.

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  Laceration

  

  Laceration: A tear in the skin caused by the impact of a blunt or edged object. Often, it occurs in skin areas close to the bone such as forehead, skullcap, shins, elbow joints or kneecaps and bleeds heavily.

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  Scar

  

  Scar: Scarring is a natural process that happens when the skin repairs itself after the wound has healed. Wounds that affect the deeper skin layers can result in some degree of scarring.

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  Burn

  

  First degree burns (for example, mild sunburns): The lightest degree of burns are only superficial. The burned area is red, slightly swollen, painful, dry, and without blisters.

  Second degree burns: Involve deeper layers of the skin. The burn appears red, blistered, swollen and painful.

  Third degree burns: Destroy all skin layers and may also even damage the underlying tissue, bones, muscles and tendons. The burn site appears white or charred. The skin area is insensitive to sensations as the nerve endings are damaged.

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  Corn

  

  Corn: The result of permanent pressure in one specific spot on the callused skin. Corns have a firm core that reaches deep, sensitive skin and thus causes pain. The symptoms include pain and swelling around the corn and discomfort when walking.

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  Callus

  

  Callus: An area of very dry, hardened and thickened skin, which is the result of pressure and friction over extended time. It appears as a yellowish thickening and is, in most cases, painless.

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  Cracked Skin

  

  Cracked skin: Excessive dryness can cause the skin to shrink and become brittle, eventually leading to skin cracking. Cracked skin is particularly common in areas that need to flex during movement such as the soles of the feet. Hands, feet and lips are areas prone to cracking.

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  Rash

  

  Rash: An itchy skin eruption on the body, which can have multiple causes. For babies, a rash in the diaper area is typical.

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  Chafed skin

  

  Chafing: Skin irritation due to intense friction between body parts or due to improper clothing. Chafing often occurs in the inner thighs and below the buttocks, on the armpits and nipples.

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  Bite

  

  Bite: A wound made by the closure of the teeth of an animal or human being. If bites penetrate the skin, they must be considered critical due to high risk of infection. Consult the medical emergency for rapid treatment and to avoid complications.

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