What does a minor cut look like?
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What does a minor cut look like?
A minor cut is a common injury that can happen to anyone at any time. Minor injuries can occur while cooking, working with sharp objects, or even just from a simple accident. You probably have little scars all over from when you were a kid or learning to cook or working around the house. While most minor cuts are not serious, they can still be painful and require immediate attention and proper care to prevent healing delays like infection.
Typically, a minor cut is a small tear or opening in the skin. Minor injuries are usually shallow but you may still see red tissue between the edges of the skin. There will likely be some minor bleeding and clear fluid oozing that should subside with a bit of added pressure and time. Depending on the depth of the cut, you may see deeper underlying tissue structure, such as fat or muscle. It is important to note that if you can see muscle or bone, this is not a minor cut and requires immediate medical attention. Any wound that goes down to bone is typically prophylactically treated for infection.
Minor cuts can happen anywhere on the body, but they are most common on the hands and fingers. This is because we use our hands for so many activities while often using sharp objects like scissors, knives, and tools around the house or at work. Minor cuts can be lacerations, abrasions, scratches or punctures. Wearing protective gloves like oven mitts, gloves for gardening or handywork can help to minimize skin injuries. Minor cuts on arms, legs or the body are common with athletic activities where falls on the ground or rough surfaces may be common. Wearing long sleeves or pants can also help prevent minor injuries from friction.
When you first notice a minor cut, it is important to clean it thoroughly to prevent infection. Start by washing your hands with soap and water, then rinse the cut under running water to remove any debris or dirt. Gently pat the area dry with a clean towel. An over-the-counter antibiotic ointment may be sufficient with a clean bandage to help prevent infection. If the cut is on a part of the body that moves frequently, such as a finger, you may need to change the bandage more frequently to keep it clean and dry. Getting a bandage to stick on the hands is difficult with the amount of time we get our hands wet, so extra frequent bandage changes may be needed. Most minor cuts will heal with these simple interventions within a few days to a week.
Ointments can be tricky to use as excessive liberal application can cause maceration or a softening of intact edges around the cut which can lead to problems with healing. Use ointments sparingly and try to apply them directly into the open area and not the good healthy tissue around the wound. Apply them directly to the open wound with a sterile applicator versus using a dollop on the bandage. Human Biosciences’ Collatek® Collagen Gel is a natural collagen gel that promotes wound healing by donating moisture and native non-hydrolyzed collagen directly to the wound bed which can be especially useful to boost new tissue growth. Collatek® will not cause maceration to surrounding tissue and is a biologically active dressing that promotes enhanced healing. A more advanced product like Collatek® may be appropriate if a minor cut is not improving with the traditional methods and healing is becoming delayed.
Even with minor cuts, be aware that signs of infection can present with any open wound. Infection will prevent a wound from healing and cause further tissue damage. Watch for signs of increasing pain, redness, or warmth around the cut, or if you develop a fever, you should seek medical attention. Infection often starts more superficially but if left untreated can progress to deeper tissue penetration which can be life-threatening if allowed to continue to go unchecked. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or recommend further treatment to prevent the infection from spreading. Once infection is controlled the minor cut should resolve quickly as long as the wound did not become much larger during the process.
For some people, minor cuts can be a big problem. Some people are at high risk for slow healing wounds or chronic infections that may be a reason for greater caution and the need for a quick referral to medical care. The frail elderly person with poor mobility may have more fragile skin, prone to skin tears and slow healing. Immunocompromised individuals on active cancer treatments, organ transplant recipients, untreated or advanced HIV infected people, people on long term use of corticosteroids and immunodeficient individuals are at a greater risk for infections. Individuals with diabetes and neuropathy can be susceptible to skin injuries that are left without early identification and slower healing. People with medical implants like knee or hip replacements or breast implants need to be vigilant with skin infections and seek medical attention at the first sign of skin infections. When infections progress to the bloodstream they may cause periprosthetic infections requiring surgical interventions.
Most minor cuts are not serious and heal quickly with proper cleansing, dressing of the area and maintaining a clean environment to allow for healing. You have likely had several minor cuts in your lifetime. If you have kids and pets in your home you are no stranger to simple wound care. Keep the medicine cabinet stocked with wound cleansers, bandages and salves and consider adding Collatek® to the list for eas,y at home care of minor wounds at home. Healing minor cuts as fast as possible will lead to minimal scarring and the best possible outcome.
©2020 Human Biosciences, Inc. The content presented here is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Mrs. Vann is responsible for branding, design, and public outreach efforts for the company. Mrs. Vann has over five years of experience in the creative design arena. She has spearheaded multiple marketing campaigns, both domestic and international. She also has experience producing several television and live-stage programs. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Video Studies from George Mason University.
Mr. Patel is the Vice President of Operations for Human BioSciences. As such, he is responsible for strategy development for optimal growth, organizing multiple teams and implementing optimal product delivery for the growth of HBS. He has served multiple positions within HBS since 2001, including Operations Manager. With an MBA in Pharmaceutical Healthcare and a Bachelor’s in Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Patel brings deep technical knowledge in collagen product production with a rich history in managing teams.
As the President of Human BioSciences, Dr. Rohan K Jain is responsible for the company’s overall operations, with a focus on research and development. Dr. Jain has supervised and conducted extensive research in the collagen, biomaterials, and protein space, resulting in the release of numerous new products to the market. Prior to his role at HBS, Dr. Jain was a capital markets attorney at Shearman & Sterling LLP. He received his Doctorate in Law and his MBA from New York University; his Bachelor’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and his Master’s in Engineering Management from Johns Hopkins University. He is a member of the New York and Maryland bars.
Cheryl Carver, LPN, WCC, CWCA, CWCP, DAPWCA, FACCWS is responsible for clinical education and training initiatives for customer accounts. Ms. Carver has amassed a wealth of clinical knowledge and industry experience in her more than 20 years as a board-certified wound care nurse. She has authored over 200 published white papers, ebooks, blogs, and articles for WoundSource and freelance.
Dr. Goebel is responsible for the company’s physical infrastructure and global expansion efforts through partnerships. Prior to joining HBS, Dr. Goebel was Managing Director at the Graf Matuschka Group in Munich, Germany, where he was actively involved in restructuring and privatization in East Germany and Eastern Europe. He was also a member of the American group of the EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the privatization of the Russian economy and military complex. He has over forty years’ experience in many different industries including medical devices, pharmacy, and others. Dr. Goebel earned his Doctorate and Postdoctoral degrees in Economics in East Berlin.
Mr. Kumar is responsible for the company’s overall accounting and finance activities with a focus on internal control and taxation.
Mr. Kumar has over 25 years of public and corporate accounting experience. He is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in the State of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C., and an Enrolled Agent authorized to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Kumar is also a Chartered Accountant and fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Mr. Kumar received his Master’s degree in Commerce from Himalayan University in India.
Mr. Slovick is responsible for all regulatory and quality affairs in the company. Mr. Slovick has worked in regulatory, quality, and clinical services within the medical device and diagnostics industry for nearly 40 years. He founded Methodize Inc., to offer strategic support for approval of medical devices and in vitro diagnostics products. Mr. Slovick has a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems.
Mr. Agarwal is responsible for Corporate Business Development, Sales, and Product Development, both locally and internationally for the company. Mr. Agarwal has over six years of corporate sales and business development experience. He completed his Master of Science in Engineering Management degree from Johns Hopkins University with a technical concentration in Mechanical Engineering. In the past, he has also worked as a fundraising volunteer for three years and thus gained insights in community fundraising and business development. Additionally, he has interned at a manufacturing firm and understood various intricacies involved in manufacturing ranging from the floor level to the supply chain. He has published a paper on Omni Channel Supply Chain and is a certified Lean Six Sigma associate. He has also interned as a business development consultant to a startup for market research and pricing strategies in Israel. Equipped with a combination of management and technical background acquired from his diverse experiences and education, he is perfectly suited to lead the business development efforts for Human BioSciences.