Forget the toilet paper wad and try these easy options instead. Luckily, if youre in a pinch, your stick of, Bottom line, the best thing you can do is shave gently and avoid getting sliced in the first place. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Keep the severed tip cold, but dont place it directly on ice, and bring it to the emergency room. Biting the inside of your lip is a common mouth injury that can cause pain, bleeding, and swelling. For the next 24 hours, do not: Avoid hard foods like pretzels and nuts for 2 to 3 days. 1. If the initial scab covering the wound grows bigger or becomes surrounded by redness, there may be an infection. Adults are advised to have a tetanus booster every 10 years. , but it will have you cursing the very act of shaving when another clean white shirt falls victim to a cut that wont close. Why You Bleed So Much Squeeze your nostrils together with your fingers below the bone. 2. Clean the wound with warm water and soap or another mild cleanser to get any dirt away from the cut. If the cut is on your legs or arms, elevate the limb above heart level to slow the blood flow. There are much better ways than a wad of toilet paper. Stop the bleeding. For this procedure, a healthcare provider will first clean the wound with a topical antibiotic. One of the benefits of Hydro Seal is that it prevents scabbing by sealing the wound, explains Cettina. 7. You should view the News section and the most recent SEC Filings in the Investor section in order to receive the most current information made available by Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. It doesnt work as quickly as a styptic pencil or alum block, but try sealing it with lip balm, so the combination of forces will help stop bleeding by the time you really need it (like the 9 AM standing meeting). If youre generally healthy, and a wound is sticking around a little longer than usual, something else in your daily routine could be throwing off healing. Abdominal and chest wounds are considered an emergency, and you should call for immediate medical help. You cant always judge the seriousness of a cut or wound by the amount it bleeds. If blood soaks through the material, don't remove it. But if you slip up, despite. Certain drugs can delay healing, such as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication that might be used for headaches or a fever. 4 Steps to Stop a Cut From Bleeding - Cleveland Clinic Contact Us with any questions or search this site for more information. Apply petroleum jelly. Clean the wound with warm water and soap or another mild cleanser to get any dirt away from the cut. Theres a big difference between a paper cut that doesnt stop oozing for 15 minutes versus a serious wound thats constantly pouring out a lot of blood, Dr. Fertel says. 5. However, if your. How to Properly Treat a Laceration - Verywell Health Try to get the injured person to safety, call 911 or local emergency services, and apply pressure to stop, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) keeps blood and oxygen flowing when a persons heart and breathing have stopped. Heres how to shave with a razor without cutting yourself. Once youre shaving, dont press down: Instead, just pull parallel to the contour of your skin and let your razor do the work. If possible, have the injured person lie down on the floor while you wait for medical care to arrive. Sick of being covered in little squares of toilet paper? When your skin is cut or scraped, you begin to bleed. Yet, adults can have nosebleeds related to high blood pressure or hardening of the arteries, and it may be more difficult to stop them. Then, gently wipe the excess balm away with your clean fingers. If you suspect that theres internal bleeding or if theres an embedded object surrounding the site of the injury, immediately call 911 or your local emergency services. You never know what kind of bacteria could be lurking on the surface of whatever youve just scraped up against, so skipping this important step could mean letting germs hang out and multiply, possibly upping your risk for infection and dragging out the healing process. Knowing how to properly care for a cut following injury could save someones life. When first applying the bandage, dont remove it to look at the wound during this time. Apply a. We suggest using an aftershave lotion instead, and saving the alum for proper nicks and cuts, to prevent overdrying the skin. Lip Balm. In most cases, the healing process should start within 24 hours. get a cut, dont worry all is not lost. Depending on the size of the cut, you may always have a scar, but for many minor cuts, after several weeks or months, you may not even be able to locate the site of the wound. It acts like an astringent to dry out and disinfect the targeted area. Shave with the grain first, and then if you want a really close shave, make a single pass against the grain this will limit your strokes and your discomfort (just be warned that shaving against the grain could lead to more ingrowns if you find yourself suffering from those nasty red bumps after shaving, we recommend applying a little Rescue Serum to soothe that burn). Apply direct pressure on the cut or wound with a clean cloth, tissue, or piece of gauze until bleeding stops. This can trigger anxiety and fear, but bleeding has a healing purpose. The bandages are also designed to stay on for several dayseven through hand-washing and bathing. The following tips apply to relatively mild injuries. To help preserve the use of your finger after an injury, its crucial to clean the wound and, Identifying the early warning signs of an infected cut can help you to reduce your risk for serious complications, such as sepsis. Folgers Classic Roast Ground Coffee, $6.99. Dr. Fertel shares the steps to take with a small cut. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. However, you should stay alert for any signs of infection, like redness, warmth, tenderness, drainage, or swelling around the cut. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. If you have a cut finger or are examining someone elses injury, do the following: You may need a tetanus shot if you havent had one in several years. You could try applying coffee grounds or a cooled-off tea bag to your cut. Youre not the only one. Still, you need to understand how to treat common bleeding incidents such as cuts and bloody noses, as well as when to seek medical help. This is the most important step when you have a cut that won't stop bleeding. Director, Global Wound Care Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. May the Strip Be With You: 5 Questions for the Designer Behind the New Star Wars BAND-AID Brand Adhesive Bandages, J&J Fun Facts: 7 Things You May Not Know About BAND-AID Brand Adhesive Bandages, Contract & Freelance Partner Opportunities, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, Microbiome Researcher Jeffrey Gordon Receives the 2022 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research, 2 Big Ideas to Help Lower the Risk of Maternal-Fetal Complications in BIPOC Women. Call 911 if you experience: If a first-aid kit is available, look for these items designed to stop intense bleeding: A scab a patch of crusty, tough tissue typically forms during the healing process, creating a protective shield over the wound. Even a tiny shaving cut is an open wound, which provides a portal for bacteria to enter your body, potentially leading to infections. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. After putting on clean latex gloves, apply firm pressure to the wound with a folded cloth or bandage for about 10 minutes. Make sure you've removed any dirt and debris that might've gotten into the wound, using tweezers if you have to. Wet a cotton ball or tissue with eye drops and place it on the cut. Run the wound under some water and gently wash the area around it with gentle soap-but try not to get soap directly in the wound, according to the Mayo Clinic. Instead of using warm or tepid water from the bathroom sink, grab an ice cube and apply it with pressure to your cut. There are some skills you hope you never need to use, but having them could be a matter of life and. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. An old, dull blade combined with a less-than-stellar shaving technique can cause cuts to happen more frequently. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Smoking Pot Every Day Linked to Heart Risks, Artificial Sweetener Linked to Heart Risks, FDA Authorizes First At-Home Test for COVID and Flu, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, Bleeding can't be stopped after 10 minutes of firm and steady pressure. Remember that emergency help is only a phone call away, and take any incident of heavy bleeding seriously. You should also see a doctor if the cut is caused by the bite of a human or animal. A sterilized bandage or Band-Aid, antiseptic spray, and a healing agent such as Neosporin can all be helpful in treating these injuries and preventing future infection. Can I remove them myself? After each use, let it dry completely before storing. Place a cool compress on the skin for 5 minutes. There's an App for That. With that in mind, heres what you should know about how to stop any of this from happening. The keys to treating a bleeding finger are stopping the flow of blood, if possible, and determining whether it needs medical attention. Next up, you should cover the cut with a Band-Aid or gauze and tape (you should change this once a day, per the Mayo Clinic). Any situation that involves heavy bleeding can create fear and stress. The article suggests 9 easy ways in which men can treat shaving nicks and cuts. Signs of infection include: Also, if the cut doesnt seem to be healing, this may indicate that theres an infection, or the wound requires stitches. The common circulatory condition is a leading cause of amputations in the U.S. To stop the bleeding: If blood leaks through, just add another towel, cloth, or bandage. Try to rinse soap out of wound to prevent irritation. If the person is unable to do this, put on latex gloves and hold the nose for them for five to 10 minutes. If you think any of your wounds are healing too slowly, or could be infected, see your doctor for treatment, as well as to rule out any more serious health issues that may need to be checked. Read your antiperspirants label, and if youre in luck, dab a little deodorant on your cut using your finger and watch the magic happenwith the added benefit of having your face smell better, too. Instead, pick up a styptic pencil, or alum block. Smearing on a little ChapStick or Vaseline works like a sealplus it'll keep bigger cuts from forming unsightly scabs. If youre unsure if your injury needs a doctors evaluation, look for the following: A deep, long, or jagged cut may need stitches to close the wound. Shave with the grain first, and then if you want a really close shave, make a single pass against the grain this will limit your strokes and your discomfort (just be warned that shaving against the grain could lead to more ingrowns if you find yourself suffering from those nasty red bumps after shaving, we recommend applying a little, "I really, really don't like shaving bumps.". All rights reserved. A cloudy fluid or pus draining from the wound is also a sign of possible infection. Blood thinners save lives. If youre in need of a quick fix to your problems and dont particularly want to bandage your face, here are a few tips to stopping the (seemingly) unstoppable cut from the wrath of a blunt razor. Use a clean cloth or bandage and gently press on the wound. If a major artery is cut, a person can lose a life-threatening amount of blood in just 5 minutes. Most people dont want to see their own blood, let alone someone elses! Plus, the skin is super sensitive down there, so it's . An alum block looks a lot like a bar of soap and feels like a stone, and in the event of a rather nasty cut, its a good thing to have in your shaving artillery. The wound shows signs of infection, such as redness, tenderness, or a thick discharge, or if the person runs a fever. Sure, a nick on your fragile cheeks might not be as painful as razor burn or as annoying as ingrown hairs, but it will have you cursing the very act of shaving when another clean white shirt falls victim to a cut that wont close. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All rights reserved. Taking Care of Cuts and Scrapes - University of Rochester Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and live smarter with its unparalleled coverage of style, culture, and beyond. Make a tourniquet only if you know how and your injury is life-threatening. Dr. Fertel says a deep cut is any wound thats gaping, jagged and looks deep, revealing fat or muscle. Saline solution is a safe option and cleans most cuts. Still, despite knowing how to shave without getting cut, accidents happen, and there are times in your life when youll need to know how to stop bleeding from shaving, too. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you choose a lip balm stick, though, you can scrape off any part of the chapstick that has touched your lips to remove any germs.). Please see our Privacy Policy. This should stop bleeding altogether. With all respect to the iconic visual that is the toilet paper methodyou know it, and have probably tried itthere are other ways to hygienically and swiftly clot the blood and disinfect the area, while promoting prompt healing all the while. Bad idea. BAND-AID Brand HYDRO SEAL adhesive bandages are specially designed to help seal wounds To first stop the bleeding, blood cells start to cluster together to promote clotting. You dont need to go all. A cut that wont stop bleeding, for example, may need stitches.