Cuts

A cut refers to a skin wound with separation of the connective tissue elements. Unlike an abrasion (a wound caused by friction or scraping), none of the skin is missing the skin is just separated. A cut is typically thought of as a wound caused by a sharp object (such as a knife or a shard of glass).

The term laceration implies a torn or jagged wound. Lacerations tend to be caused by blunt trauma (such as a blow, fall, or collision). Cuts and lacerations are terms for the same condition. The term gash can be used for more dramatic effect because it implies a longer or deeper cut . An avulsion refers to a wound where tissue is not just separated but torn away from the body. After you suffer a cut  you often bleed.

Other concerns with a cut  include infection, pain, damage to structures beneath the skin, and future scars. Although it can be obscured by blood , a cut  is one of the easiest medical conditions to diagnose. A deep cut , may reveal underlying tissues such as fat, tendon, muscle, or bone. Some people faint at the sight of their own blood  (this is a neurological reaction in which a reflex slowing of the heart causes a low blood  pressure called vasovagal syncope). Physicians need to distinguish this common faint from people who pass out from loss of blood  (hemorrhagic shock).  

When to seek medical attention: Call your doctor to decide whether you need a tetanus booster. You should have had a tetanus booster immunization within the last 10 years if you have a simple, clean cut , or within the last five years if you have a more complex or dirty cut . Beyond general wound care advice, it is very difficult to give advice on care specific to a patient's cut  over the phone. Your doctor may help you decide whether it is better to go to the doctor's office or to a hospital's Emergency Department.

Ask these questions when considering whether to get treatment for a cut  at a hospital's Emergency Department: Can you stop the bleeding ? Are the wound edges separated? Can you adequately clean the wound? Is it possible that serious underlying damage was done (such as a cut  nerve or tendon)? Do you need a tetanus or rabies shot? Tetanus is a serious condition resulting from a poison made by the Clostridium tetani bacterium, which is often present in dirt. Rabies is a serious viral infection of the nervous system resulting from bites of rabid animals.

Self Care at Home: Most bleeding can be stopped with direct pressure and time (rest and elevation are also helpful). Cleaning with a gentle soap and water will help reduce the chance of bacterial infection. Antibiotic ointment (such as bacitracin) and a sterile gauze bandage will help to protect the wound from further infection and water loss until a scab forms.

Essential oils including Lavender, Lemon and Tea Tree can help the cut to heal. Bathe the cut in water with 1 drop Lavender and 1 drop Tea Tree essential oils.  If a plaster is applied put one drop of Lavender essential oil onto the plaster before application.