Various types of injuries result in cuts and scrapes, and mostly, these cuts are quite harmless and go away without taking any drastic steps. Things may be different when you have to deal with an infected cut. Similarly, the site and the severity of the trauma will also play a role in determining exactly how long a wound takes to heal completely. The good thing is that you can take certain steps to heal cuts fast. Sometimes, all you have to do is take some precautionary measures and follow some natural remedies to fix a cut.
Never try home remedies if your injury is severe. You should call 911 immediately if your cuts are serious.
First Aid When You Get a Cut
For common injuries, the very first step for how to heal cuts faster is to stop the bleeding and clean your wounds carefully.
1. Take Steps to Stop Bleeding
Apply pressure onto the wound. You can also use a clean cloth or gauze to apply pressure on the cut for several minutes or until the bleeding stops completely. Keep the affected area elevated to control the bleeding.
2. Clean the Wound Carefully
You can always use water to clean the wound. Never make use of hydrogen peroxide or you will end up making things worse. Similarly, soaps contain chemicals that can irritate your skin. Just using pressurized water will help clean the wound.
- Use saline solution: Simply mix half teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of boiling water and leave it for some time to cool off a bit. Then pour it over the cut to clean it properly. You can also use a piece of cotton wool to wipe away any moisture from the cut. You may have to rinse your cut a number of times with a saline solution, but be sure to use freshly prepared solution every time.
8 Things You Can Do to Heal Cuts Fast
In order to understand how to heal cuts fast, you need to learn what steps to take after sustaining an injury to speed up the recovery and avoid any further infections. Here is more about it.
1. Use a Colloidal Silver Antibacterial Ointment
You can find these ointments from any drug stores. All you have to do is apply a thin layer of ointment to your cut and then cover it with a bandage. While these ointments may not play a big role in healing your cut faster, they definitely help prevent infections.
2. Apply an Ice Pack to Reduce Swelling
If you notice inflammation or swelling, you should consider applying an ice pack on your wound. Cold temperature will help cause numbness to the area and reduce pain as well. Soak a towel in water and wring it well. Now, place it in a zip-top bag and put in the freezer. Take it out after 15 minutes, wrap a damp towel around it, and place on your wound. Never apply an ice pack if you have an infected or open wound.
3. Include More Vitamins in Your Diet
Both protein and vitamins will help accelerate healing. Vitamins such as vitamin C and vitamin A promote healthy skin and help with wound healing. Your wound will take longer to heal if you are nutrient deficiency.
- Be sure to include lean meats, such as turkey and chicken in your diet. Also, increase your intake of eggs, fish, beans, and Greek yogurt. Fruits and veggies rich in vitamin C such as kiwi, cantaloupe, berries, pineapple, mango, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts will also help with healing.
- It is also important to ensure that your diet contains vitamin A (cheese, meat, fortified milk, halibut, etc.), vitamin D (fatty fish, cheese, eggs, beef liver, etc.), and vitamin E (seeds, nuts, spinach, peanut butter, kiwi, etc.).
4. Use Chamomile
Studies show that regular use of chamomile accelerates healing. In fact, it often works as effectively as hydrocortisone creams do. It triggers your body's natural healing process and plays a role in regeneration of tissue. The best thing is to use tincture or natural products that contain chamomile as well.
5. Make Use of Honey
Learning to use honey will help you understand how to heal cuts fast using natural remedies. Honey works great because it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It contains antioxidants that promote healing. When applied to your wound, it maintains a moist healing environment and prevents infections too. Simply apply a thin layer of raw honey on your wound and then use a bandage to cover it.
6. Try Aloe Vera
Thanks to its healing properties, using Aloe Vera is always on the list of how to heal cuts fast. It works by preventing infection and promoting formation of collage. You can even benefit from using gels and creams that contain Aloe Vera. All you have to do is cut off a tip of the plant and apply a thin layer of the gel on your cut. Cover it with a bandage. Avoid using this remedy on very deep cuts.
7. Include Zinc in Your Diet
If you are zinc deficient, your wounds will take long to heal. To deal with delayed healing rates, you can include food rich in zinc (lamb, pork, beef, whole grains, nuts, beans, etc.) in your diet and even apply zinc directly to your wound. Zinc has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and promotes the growth of skin cells. You can find zinc ointments in most stores.
8. Protect the Cut
Along with taking the abovementioned steps, you should also ensure that you protect the cut properly.
- For this, you should keep it covered with a clean cotton bandage – use medical tape to keep your bandage in place.
- Always clean your cut with a saline solution when changing the dressing – do not apply new dressing when your wound is still wet.
- Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying or changing your bandage.
Keep these points in mind will help you learn how to heal cuts fast without having to deal with infections.