Cuts

A cut refers to a wound of the skin which occurs when the skin comes into contact with a sharp object. The wound may vary in depth and pain depending on the object inflicting the damage. A paper cut is a very small and shallow cut made by paper. These cuts may sting and are often found in awkward places, for example in the fingers. Deeper cuts, for example those caused by knives, often involve more damage.

The depth of the cut refers to the number of layers of skin and underlying tissue that are damaged. Superficial cuts involve the top layer of the skin and these cuts do not bleed as much as a cut that reaches the second layer of skin (dermis) or deeper. A cut that is deep enough to damage a muscle requires the attention of a healthcare practitioner and in very severe cases surgical intervention may be required. Cuts reaching the second layer of skin and deeper should produce a significant amount of bleeding and may need to have the severed edges of the skin stitched back together. The main reasons for this are to prevent further tearing and bleeding of the wound, to decrease the chances of infection and to reduce scar formation as the wounds heals.
Small cuts do not usually leave a scar however larger and deeper cuts may leave a scar after they have healed.

A scar is formed when the skin re- grows in and over the cut during the healing process. The scar tissue is not identical in colour and texture to the rest of the skin and there may therefore be a colour or texture variation of the new skin. All cuts should be cleaned correctly in order to avoid an infection. Cuts may become infected if they are not cleaned correctly or they are exposed to bacteria that enter the wound and multiply. Signs of infection include heat, swelling, redness and pus formation. Red streaks radiating from the wound are also indicative of an infection. Please consult your healthcare practitioner if your cuts have not healed within ten days or your cut appears infected.

Treatment

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