How do I look after a new cut?

Use sterile gauze/ a dressing pad/ a clean towel to put pressure on them to help stop the bleeding. Once bleeding has stopped clean both the cuts and the surrounding area with a wound wash or a mild anti-bacterial soap-water solution (rinsing all the soap out afterwards) Cover the cut in Anti-bacterial Cream Put a “Non-Adherant (Non-Stick) Dressing” over the cut (Melolin) and hold it in place via a bandage/medical tape. You can also use Adhesive Dressings which are often easier to use (They are like big plasters/ Band-aids). If necessary you can put too pads side by side or cut the sticky bit of one side of the adhesive dressing and stick two together to make the pad extra long

I can’t stop the bleeding, what should I do?

Put a relatively tight bandage around the wound (but not so tight that you can’t feel your fingers (/toes)) and elevate it above the level of your heart (for a leg you should lie down with your legs propped up on something). If it bleeds through the first layer then add another on top, and keep adding layers as it bleeds through. If it’s still bleeding after 10mins (don’t peek in the meantime) then you need to get someone/ an ambulance to take you to hospital. Make sure you don’t drive yourself there.

 How do I know when I need stitches?

Bleeds for 10mins under direct pressure (if it bleeds through the layer closest to the wound then DON’T remove it, just add another layer on top). Gaping more than around a cm Gaping at all and is near a joint/ on an area where the skin is stretched a lot Is down to fat (looks yellow and bubbly)

Why should I get a cut stitched?

 To increase the speed that it heals, To reduce healing times To reduce scarring To reduce long-term damage if the cut is deep To reduce any loss of mobility of a joint due to scar tissue if it is close to one

I’ve been cutting and now I’m feeling really weak, dizzy and faint, is something up?

These are symptoms of shock which is a medical condition and is classed as an Emergency so you need to go to A+E/ ER to get looked at.

My cuts are only shallow and there’s a black line around some of them. It’s not long since I made them. Is this bad? Are they infected?

That is likely to just be bruising if the wound is new and you have no other signs of infection.

How do you stop cuts being itchy?

If you keep the wound moist either by using anti-bacterial cream or a dressing that creates a moist environment around the wound (such as Hydrocolloid Dressings) it shouldn’t itch as much. Often you will get some itching due to nerve endings knitting back together. There may be nothing you can do about this.

How often should I change a dressing?

Often with a new cut it is a good idea to change the dressing daily Infected cuts should have their dressings changed at least daily, possibly twice daily Some dressings work best if they are in place longer and if this is the case it will say on the packaging.

How do you use steri-strips?

Steri-strips should only be applied up to 24hours after you cut. Steri-strips should be put on across the wound (ie if a wound goes - way you'd put the strip l way so it ends up like +) You start by putting one across the middle to close the wound a bit and then gradually put more on one at a time on either side of the middle one until the cut is closed. You should leave a gap of about 2-3mm between each strip to allow any discharge to drain out of the wound. You should not get steri-strips wet They should stay in place for 7-10days They DO NOT need changing You still need to look out for signs of infection like you would any other cut.

I had stitches and then came home from the hospital a few hours ago and it’s not stopped bleeding since. What should I do?

 Go back to the hospital, it needs to be looked at again.

I’ve got some cuts that have been stitched, how do I keep them dry in the shower?

Put a waterproof dressing on them. They are often only very good if they are really fine film ones (such as Opsite); you can ask at your pharmacy and see if they can help. Taping a plastic bag around them may work.