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Cuts and grazes
Cuts and
grazes
Cut yourself or suffered from a graze?
Attend to it properly so that your skin
can recover quickly.
ABOUT
All you need to know
about cuts and grazes
TREATMENT
Easy-to-follow tips
and advice
SOLUTIONS
Elastoplast products
that might help
PREVENTION
How to prevent
scarring and heal
more beautifully
ABOUT
Fortunately, the most common everyday injuries are minor wounds which can easily be attended to with a plaster.
Whether you have cut yourself while chopping some vegetables, grazed your skin while scratching along a wall or when falling on your hands – a plaster will attend to these minor injuries and help them heal better.
What kind of wound is it?
A cut with its dehiscent wound edges; © Elastoplast
A graze or abrasion extending to nerve endings;
© Elastoplast

Cuts: A cut is an area of severed skin that has been penetrated with a sharp edge, such as a knife, a small tool or the edge of a sheet of paper (paper cuts are also painful). The wound will often bleed and have slightly dehiscent wound edges.

ABRASIONS CAN HURT BECAUSE
OF ALL THE NERVE ENDINGS
WE HAVE UNDER OUR SKIN

Grazes or abrasions: A usually harmless abrasion of the upper skin layers that occurs after falling on knees, hands or elbows, or scratching over a rough surface with some skin coming off subsequently. Abrasions can be painful since the injury often extends to the many fine nerve endings subjacent to the skin.

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TREATMENT
How to treat minor wounds like a cut or abrasion
Step 1
Remember to wash your hands carefully before treating a wound. Any break in the skin can be susceptible to bacteria penetrating.
Step 2
Clean the wound carefully, wiping away any dirt and grit. Use a clean cotton cloth with a mild disinfectant spray or rinse with cold water, then pat area dry before applying a clean dressing.
Do not remove embedded objects, leave that to medical staff. Usually it is recommended to disinfect the graze or abrasion.
Step 3
In any case, cover the cut or abrasion with a plaster. A plaster will protect the injured area from friction, bacteria and contamination, will absorb wound fluid and create conditions in which the wound can heal undisturbed. Tip: Special Elastoplast plasters such as Fabric Antibacterial already contain antibacterial silver in its woundpad which will reduce the risk of infection.
Some simple steps for treating wounds:

01

Stay calm and reassure the person, even when there is a lot of bleeding. Decide if the casualty needs medical aid; ask for advice, if not sure.
With children: Explain what you are doing, that it might be a little painful but they will soon feel better.

02

03

Make sure, you wash your hands before applying plasters or dressings or wear disposable surgical gloves – this will cut the risk of infection.
A minor wound will soon stop bleeding.
If it does not, apply a little pressure to the spot with a non-stick pad until it stops.

04

05

If the bleeding continues, apply more gauze pads and keep
pressure on the wound and seek medical advice.
Clean the wound carefully, wiping away any dirt and grit. Use a clean cotton cloth sprayed with disinfectant or rinse with cold water, then pat area dry before applying a clean dressing. Do not remove embedded objects, leave that to medical staff. If there is anything embedded in the skin, do not try to remove it. This should be left to a professional.

06

07

Disinfect, then cover the injured area with an appropriate dressing such as a wound pad, compress or an adhesive bandage.
Keep all cuts clean and change dressing regularly.

08

Expert tip
Dr. Rainer Wolber from Research & Development, Beiersdorf AG
Elastoplast Fast Healing will create moist wound healing conditions

“Did you know that you can speed up wound healing? Using a special plaster will create optimum conditions for moist wound healing, which will accelerate healing by up to 50 % and reduce the risk of scarring, Try Elastoplast Fast Healing for advanced results.

“USING SPECIALISED PLASTERS
SUCH AS FAST HEALING
WILL SPEED UP HEALING
BY UP TO 50 %”

Its advanced Polyurethane plaster technology ensures moist wound healing for optimal wound healing conditions and on top of that, flexible, breathable and waterproof material also ensures excellent skin tolerability.
Clinical studies show that this plaster will give you excellent cosmetic results.”

*Wigger-Alberti W. et al. J Wound Care
2009 Mar; 18 (3):123-28, 131

WOUND DRESSING KNOW-HOW
IS IT NOT BETTER TO LET SMALL WOUNDS DRY AT THE FRESH AIR, INSTEAD OF PUTTING ON A PLASTER?

01

No. It is a wound care myth that keeping minor cuts and grazes uncovered helps them to heal faster. The contrary is true. Research shows that covered wounds heal more efficiently and have a reduced risk of infection. Elastoplast products provide safe protection until the wound is completely healed. (Also see: Moist wound healing and Silver technology.)
WHEN SHOULD I CONSULT A DOCTOR?
We recommend to contact a medical professional in the following circumstances:
  • if the wound is deep and causes major bleeding
  • if the wound shows signs of infection such as redness, warmth, pain and swelling
  • if there are embedded foreign objects
  • in case of an animal or human bite or in case of contact with animal blood
  • if the wound is in the area of the face
  • if there is insufficient tetanus vaccination
  • and of course any time you have questions or are uncertain

02

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY PLASTER?

03

Usually, wound dressings and plasters should be changed daily for hygienic reasons. If you use an advanced plaster such as Elastoplast Fast Healing that provides moist wound healing conditions, it is recommended to leave it in place for up to two days or more in order to not interrupt the healing process.
IT LOOKS LIKE MY WOUND GOT INFECTED AND SUPPURATES - WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Contact a medical professional as soon as you recognise signs of infection. Symptoms include not only the occurrence of pus but also symptoms such as swelling, redness, heat, pain, itching or burning. In case of infection the wound will need medical care and special medical treatment.

04

PLASTER GUIDE - THE SPECIALISTS
Applying the right plaster can do a lot for your comfort and speed up healing. Find out what plaster is right for you.

01

The waterproof specialists
The Elastoplast Aqua Protect Strips as well as the Fast Healing plasters are waterproof and will not come off while washing or showering. All Elastoplast Plastic plaster as well as the Junior plaster are also water resistant.
The antiseptic specialist
Looking to protect your wound from dirt as well as infection? Then try plaster which come with antiseptic ointments or an antiseptic such as Silver technology (e.g. Antiseptic Plaster and Antibacterial Sensitive) which are designed to help avoiding infections even more effectively. Additional cleansing and disinfection before applying the plaster is recommended.

02

03

The fabric specialists
Check out the Elastoplast Fabric products: These plasters are made from specially flexible, breathable material, making them especially suitable for joints and moveable body parts; even for larger wounds on knees as they come in various sizes.
The finger specialist
Elastoplast Fabric Finger Strips –
they are extra long so that they stick perfectly on fingers.

04

05

The sensitive specialists
If you have very sensitive skin we recommend to use Elastoplast Sensitive products. These plasters are especially developed for sensitive skin and are very skin friendly and hypoallergenic.
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SOLUTIONS
Some products that might help

Always cover your wound. Make sure to have a staple of different bandages and wound dressings at hand so that you will have the right one suited for your specific body part and needs. Some suggestions from the Elastoplast range:

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PREVENTION
Tips

01

When using sharp tools, be especially careful and if necessary, wear protective gear
In the kitchen, chop away from yourself and remember that sharp knives are actually less dangerous than blunt ones as they will pass through the object smoother.

02

03

Pass scissors with the sharp ends pointing away from the person you are giving them to.
It is not possible to avoid all cuts and grazes, so make sure to have a well-stocked first aid kit at home. Find tips on what it should contain here.

04

Don‘t pick at scabs. Right after you get a cut or scrape your body starts healing the wound. White blood cells attack infection-causing bacteria. Red blood cells, fibrin, and platelets create a clot over your wound. And in no time, a scab forms. If you pick off the scab, you may not only reopen the wound and introduce bacteria, you could also create a larger scar.
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Always see your doctor if the wound is deep, bleeding or shows signs of infection like reddening, swelling or warmth. 
Also make sure to seek medical help if you are not able to clean the wound properly.
In case you have diabetes a proper wound care is of special importance. Always discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor and/or podiatrist, even for the care of minor wounds and skin cracks – especially on your feet.
 
Please note that none of the above given tips or recommendations substitute medical advice. Carefully read the instructions for use given in our products‘ packages. Important: consult a health professional in case of any uncertainity of treating your wound properly.
 
The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care or advice. If you have or suspect a health problem, you should consult your doctor. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it, because of something you have read on this website.

For further information regarding Elastoplast products, please contact us via email on phc@beiersdorf.com. Carefully read the instructions for use given in our products‘ packages.

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    • Expert Tip
    Dr. Rainer Wolber, Research & Development, Beiersdorf AG
    “Even a small abrasion should be disinfected. Using a special disinfectant plaster will not only deal with bacteria that might infect your small injury, but also speed up healing.”
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