Sliced your finger while slicing that tomato? Peeled your skin while peeling a potato? Grazed your knee climbing the stairs? These are some of the most common ways you can injure yourself. The outermost layer of your skin gets cut or scraped off during these injuries. Usually, a cut penetrates deeper than the surface layer of your skin, thereby causing bleeding and pain.
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While a cut is caused while handling a sharp implement like a knife, or broken glass shards in some instances, a graze occurs when your skin is abraded against a rough surface, causing the outer layer to be ripped off. Both these injuries are painful, ending in bleeding in most cases. Eventually, as time passes by, the wound is covered over by a scab, followed by quick healing.
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Cuts and grazes that are minor and are not too deep, do not need stitches. These minor cuts and grazes can be treated at home. The first step in treating a cut or a graze is to stem the bleeding by applying pressure on the affected area with a cotton pad or a clean tissue. Once the bleeding has stemmed, the next step is to clean the area thoroughly with water and antiseptic soap. Next comes treating these cuts and grazes effectively, at home.
Home remedies for cuts and grazes
Try some of these easy, simple to use home remedies for cuts and grazes to accelerate the healing process and prevent infection.
1. Aloe vera
Aloe vera is amazing in helping heal any cuts and grazes. Not only is it soothing, it is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory as well, making it ideal for cuts.
Remedy
- Slice open an aloe vera leaf and squeeze out the fresh gel into a clean bowl. Slather this gel on the wounds, letting it air dry on its own. Repeat this remedy every few hours to accelerate healing.
2. Apple cider vinegar
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Apple cider vinegar possesses anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and healing properties, which help heal minor cuts and grazes. It also contains acetic acid, which helps reduce any associated pain.
Remedy
- Dip a clean cotton ball in some apple cider vinegar and dab the injured areas with it. Repeat several times a day for a few days, till the skin looks better.
3. Calendula
Calendula is a medicinal herb that helps lower inflammation, alleviate any associated pain, stem bleeding, and accelerate the healing process. Therefore, it’s one of the ideal home remedies for cuts and grazes.
Remedies
- To 1 cup of water, add 1 tablespoon of dried calendula flowers. Bring this to a boil and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Take it off the heat and strain the liquid. Let it cool down fully before using this solution to rinse the injured area thrice daily. Repeat this remedy for a few days till the affected area is on the mend.
- Apply creams and/or lotions that contain calendula, on the affected areas. Repeat this remedy several times a day to promote healing.
4. Comfrey
Comfrey is an herb that contains the compound allantoin, which is known to help heal cuts and grazes. Additionally, this compound also helps in the growth of healthy tissues, while also reducing the risk of scarring of the injured areas.
Remedies
- Take a handful of comfrey leaves and rub the affected areas using them. Do this several times a day to promote healing.
- To 1 cup of hot water, add 1 tablespoon of dried comfrey leaves and cover it with a lid. Let it steep for 15 minutes, before straining it. Allow the liquid to cool completely and use this to cleanse the affected area thrice a day. Repeat this for a few days till the skin looks to be healing.
5. Garlic
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Garlic is rich in beneficial enzymes and compounds that possess antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. These help in healing and preventing any infection, while also lowering any pain associated with the wound.
Remedies
- To 1 cup of wine, mix 3 chopped garlic cloves. Let it stand for 3 hours, before straining it. Apply this garlic infused wine on the well-cleaned cuts or grazes with a clean cotton ball. Let it air dry; do not wash it. Repeat this remedy twice a day for a few days to accelerate healing.
- Take 5-6 garlic cloves and crush them. Add some honey to this and apply it gently over the injured area. Let it stay for 10 minutes, before removing the garlic and cleaning the area with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy two times a day for a few days to help with the healing process.
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6. Honey
Honey possesses anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties, which help combat any signs of infection. It helps keep the injured area moisturized, hydrated, and clean so as to accelerate healing.
Remedy
- Smear some pure honey on the affected area and cover it with a bandage. Let it stay for about an hour, before removing the bandage and rinsing it off with plain water. Repeat this remedy several times in a day for a few days till the wound or cut has dried up.
7. Onion
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Onion is known to contain anti-microbial and antiseptic properties, which are beneficial for treating minor cuts and grazes. Additionally, it also contains compounds that help reduce any associated pain.
Remedy
- Take a fresh onion slice and rub it on the injured area. Repeat this several times a day to reduce swelling and accelerate healing.
8. Plantain
Plantain is another remedy that is highly effective in treating minor cuts and grazes. It contains anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and cleansing properties, which help in lowering pain, while also preventing infection.
Remedies
- Take a few plantain leaves and crush them to extract their juice. Apply this on the cleaned injury site, leaving it on for a few hours. Repeat this remedy thrice a day for a few days to see visible improvement in the condition.
- Dab a few drops of plantain oil on cuts and grazes, thereby accelerating the healing process. Follow this remedy twice a day till the skin scabs over and heals.
9. Tea bags
Tea bags contain tannins, which contain astringent properties. This helps heal cuts, grazes, and bites.
Remedy
- Apply a used tea bag on the affected area, leaving it on for 10 minutes, before removing it. Repeat this thrice a day for best results.
10. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil contains anti-microbial, antiseptic, and healing properties, which help treat minor cuts, wounds, and grazes. Additionally, it also helps combat infection, while also helping soothing any pain.
Remedies
- Add a few drops of tea tree oil to 1 tablespoon of almond oil and mix well. Apply this on your cuts and grazes. Repeat this remedy thrice a day for best results.
- To 1 cup of warm water, add half a tablespoon of tea tree oil and mix well. Rinse the cuts and grazes with this solution twice daily to accelerate skin healing.
11. Turmeric
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Turmeric has been used to treat cuts and wounds in traditional medicine for years. It possesses antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce any associated pain, stem the bleeding, and preventing infection.
Remedies
- Take 2 teaspoons of turmeric in a clean bowl and add enough water to form a smooth paste. Smear this on the injury site, leaving it on for 20 minutes, before rinsing it off with warm water. Follow this remedy twice a day for a few days to see visible improvement.
- To stem the bleeding on a fresh cut, put a bit of turmeric powder on it and press gently.
12. White vinegar
White vinegar contains acetic acid, which is helpful in cleansing and disinfecting the cuts. Additionally, it possesses antiseptic and astringent properties, which help in preventing infection of the injury site.
Remedy
- Add 1 tablespoon of salt to 2/3 cup of water and dissolve it fully. Now add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar and mix well. Use a clean cotton ball to apply this on any fresh wounds and cuts. Repeat this every 3 hours for a few days, till the injured skin looks on the mend.
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Additional tips
- Keep the injury site well moisturized to accelerate healing, prevent cracking, while also helping reduce the chance of scarring.
- Once the wound scabs over, do not pick at it or scratch it, since that might increase the risk of infection.
- Avoid exposing the wound directly to sunlight. This might cause skin darkening at the injury site.
- To promote quick healing, consume foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E.
- Consume protein-rich foods to accelerate the healing process.
- Drink plenty of water to keep your body and skin well-hydrated.
These are all the effective home remedies for cuts and grazes. For more updates on health, skin care, and fitness secrets, subscribe to our newsletter today!
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