How to Heal a Cut in the Nose

The nose is a sensitive part of the body, so a small cut in the nose can be difficult to treat, sometimes even painful. Proper care of the wound in your nose can help you heal faster and prevent infection. See your doctor if you have uncontrollable bleeding, a wound that doesn’t heal, or signs of infection.

Table of Contents

Sponge

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Hand washing. Make sure your hands are clean to avoid the risk of bacteria entering the open wound. ^{[1] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to source} Wash hands under clean running water and scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds (singing “Happy Birthday” twice). ^{[2] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source} Then rinse thoroughly and dry your hands with a clean towel.

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Gently press to stop bleeding. If the wound is bleeding and is close to the side of your nose, you can use a clean material to gently press it until the bleeding stops. Do not hold your breath and do not insert anything into your nostrils. If the wound is not visible or is not near the side of the nose, use the following first aid to stop the bleeding: ^{[3] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to source}

Sit with your back straight and lean forward. Stay in this position to reduce pressure in the blood vessels in the nose and avoid swallowing blood.
Squeeze the nose between the thumb and index finger and hold it for about 10 minutes. Breathe through your mouth during this time. Release your hand after 10 minutes.
If the nose is still bleeding, repeat the process. If the bleeding is still bleeding after 20 minutes, you should seek medical help, as this could be a sign that the injury is more serious than you think.
Stay cool during the hemostasis by wiping your face with a cold washcloth or sucking on ice cubes. ^{[4] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to Source}

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Carefully remove debris from the wound. To reduce the risk of infection and complications, you can use sterile tweezers to pick up debris stuck in the wound. Be careful when using tweezers to avoid making the wound worse or cutting the skin. ^{[5] X Research Source www.firstaidweb.com/cut.html}

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Use clean utensils to clean the wound. If you feel like something is stuck in a cut, or if you need to clean up bits of skin, tissue, or blood clots, disinfect all the tools you plan to use. If sterilization is not available, you need to make sure the tools are as clean as possible. ^{[6] X Research Source www.firstaidweb.com/cut.html} How to disinfect instruments as follows:

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Thoroughly wash all tools with soap and water, such as tweezers, then rinse thoroughly.
Place utensils in a pot or saucepan and cover with water.
Cover and bring the water to a boil, continue to boil for 15 minutes without opening the lid.
Remove the pot from the heat, keep the lid on, and wait for it to cool.
Drain the water in the pot without touching the utensils. If you haven’t used the tools in the pot yet, leave them in the drained pot with the lid on.
Carefully remove the tool when preparing to use it. Avoid touching the parts of the tool that will come into contact with the wound; only touch the handle.

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Choose a wound wash product. Usually, washing with water and soap is the best way to clean cuts or minor skin wounds. For more delicate and sensitive areas, sometimes you need to use both a cleanser and an antiseptic.

A popular product that is both a cleaning and anti-infective soap is called chlorhexidine. This product is available without a prescription in most pharmacies. You need to dilute this solution very well before using it on areas with mucous membranes, such as the inside of the nose.
Read the product label carefully. Do not use any products that are not intended for use inside the nose.

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Rinse the tissue around the wound. You may need to use a cotton swab or rolled gauze to reach the wound and wash it off. Dip a cotton swab or gauze tip in clean water and mild soap or a small amount of chlorhexidine to clean the wound. Rinse with water and clean utensils to remove all soap. ^{[7] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to Source}

Use clean tweezers or sterile tweezers to clamp the gauze pad to make it easier to clean the wound.

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Seek medical attention if the wound is in a hard-to-reach location. If the cut is in a hard-to-see or hard-to-reach spot, you may have trouble handling it. The wound may be further damaged or infected if the cut is deep above the nose. Call your doctor or go to the emergency room instead of treating the cut yourself. ^{[8] X Research Source www.firstaidweb.com/cut.html}

Wound treatment

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Wash your hands before caring for the wound. An open wound is a gateway for harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Wash your hands with soap and warm water before touching the wound. ^{[9] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to Source}

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Talk to your doctor about using products inside the nose. Antibiotic or anti-infective creams and ointments are formulated to treat superficial cuts and scrapes, but they may not be suitable for more severe wounds deep in the nose. You should ask your doctor if these products are safe for wounds in the nose. These products are available without a prescription in pharmacies. ^{[10] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to Source}

With your doctor’s approval, you can dab a small amount of anti-infective cream or ointment on the tip of a cotton swab or small gauze pad and carefully apply it around the cut.

Handling severe cases

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Seek medical attention if you do not stop bleeding easily. Persistent bleeding could signal a broken bone, a deep cut, or a more serious problem. Bleeding that continues for more than 15 to 20 minutes is a warning sign of a more serious problem. ^{[14] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to Source}

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See your doctor if the wound does not start to heal within a few days. Some lesions in the nostrils may require medical treatment. The nose is a sensitive organ filled with blood vessels, fluids (like mucus) and secretions from the sinuses – all of which contain bacteria. Some lesions in the nose need to be treated by a doctor, even a specialist, such as an otolaryngologist. ^{[15] X Research Source}

In some cases, the wound appears to be healing well but recurs for weeks or months. You may need to ask your doctor about antibiotics and medical procedures that can prevent the wound from reoccurring. ^{[16] X Research Source}

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Seek medical attention if animal injury is involved. If the cut is caused by an animal or by a dirty object with a jagged edge, you must make sure the wound is cleaned and treated properly. The earlier an infection is detected, the easier and safer it is to treat. ^{[17] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to Source}

Seek medical attention as soon as possible if the nose wound is caused by a risk factor for systemic infection.

Advice

Persistent wounds that last for weeks or even longer could be a sign of a more serious illness that requires medical attention.
Do not touch the wound. This can slow healing and increase the risk of bacteria entering the wound, leading to infection.
Symptoms such as pain, swelling, or bruising may indicate a broken bone, not just a cut. If you have these symptoms, see your doctor for proper treatment.
Repeated or persistent episodes of nosebleeds may require medical procedures. The cut may be deeper or longer than you think.
If the cut is too far above the nasal cavity to be seen or not easily reached, see your doctor for treatment.
A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables can help wounds heal faster.
Full tetanus vaccination. Adults need a booster shot every 10 years.

Steps

Sponge

Wound treatment

Handling severe cases

Advice

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