Wound Care: Simple Steps to Clean, Protect, and Heal

Got a cut, scrape, or stitch to look after? Treating wounds the right way speeds healing and lowers the chance of infection. Below are clear, practical steps you can use at home and fast rules for when to get professional help.

How to clean and dress a minor wound

First, wash your hands. That’s the easiest way to keep germs away. Rinse the wound with clean running water for a minute or two to flush out dirt. Use mild soap on the skin around the wound, but don’t scrub the wound itself. Avoid hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol for routine cleaning—they can slow healing by damaging healthy tissue.

If there’s visible debris, gently remove it with sterile tweezers after cleaning. Pat the area dry with a clean cloth or sterile gauze. Apply a thin layer of a non-prescription antibiotic ointment (like bacitracin) if you aren’t allergic—this helps keep the wound moist and lowers infection risk. Cover with a non-stick sterile dressing or adhesive bandage.

Change the dressing daily or whenever it gets wet or dirty. Check the wound each time: look for increased redness, spreading warmth, new or worsening pain, swelling, or pus. If the dressing sticks, soak it with saline or clean water to loosen it before removing.

When to see a doctor and special cases

See a clinician right away if the wound is deep, won’t stop bleeding after 10–15 minutes of pressure, shows signs of infection, contains a foreign object you can’t remove, or is from an animal or human bite. Also seek care if the edges gape widely—many of those need stitches within 6–12 hours (sooner for facial wounds).

If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or reduced feeling in the area, get medical advice early. Chronic wounds like pressure sores or diabetic foot ulcers need specialist care: they heal slowly, can hide infections, and often need offloading, cleaning, and medical dressing plans.

Other quick tips: cool minor burns under running water for 10–20 minutes, then cover with a clean dressing. For blisters, try to keep the skin intact; if it opens, clean it and cover. For pain, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed. Check your tetanus vaccine—if your last booster was more than 10 years ago, or more than 5 years ago for a dirty or puncture wound, talk to a provider about a booster.

Finally, keep wounds protected from dirt and pressure while they heal. Good nutrition, staying hydrated, and managing blood sugar help your body build new tissue faster. If anything looks off or healing stalls after a week or two, don’t wait—get a professional opinion.