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This article was co-written by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee is a licensed family physician practicing in Tennessee. She received her MSN from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 3,043 times.
Scratches on the face are a real nuisance, not only because of the pain, but also because the face is where everyone is most afraid of leaving scars. Fortunately, you can treat and care for your scratches at home to help them heal and prevent scarring. If the scratches do not stop bleeding after you have pressed for 10 minutes or if the wound becomes infected, seek medical attention immediately.
Steps
Clean up scratches
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Wash hands with soap and water. Before touching scratches, it’s important to wash your hands to remove any bacteria and germs. Use soap and warm water to scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds, then rinse and dry with a clean towel. [1] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to Source
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Apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. Take a clean cloth or towel and press it over your face, just above the wound. Hold for about 5 minutes, continuing to press down all this time until the bleeding stops. [2] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to Source
- The scratches are usually quite shallow so they won’t bleed for very long.
- If the bleeding still hasn’t stopped after 10 minutes, the wound may need stitches. Contact medical personnel immediately.
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Wash the wound with soap and water. Bend over the sink and gently splash water on your face. Take a few drops of hand soap and carefully rub it over the scratch, trying not to touch it too hard to make it bleed again. [3] X Research Sources
- It is important to thoroughly wash the injured area to remove any pathogens or bacteria that may be present.
- Never use hydrogen peroxide to clean a wound; This solution is too strong.
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Wash the scratches for about 2 minutes. Bend over the sink and let the water run under the faucet. Leave it on for about 2 minutes for the water to wash away all the soap and dirt. Gently pat skin dry with a clean towel after rinsing. [4] X Research Sources
- If you’re washing a child’s scratches, you’ll have a hard time telling them to stay still for that long. If you can’t wash all 2 minutes, try to wash as long as possible.
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Apply antibacterial cream. Take a tube of antibacterial cream, lotion or ointment and squeeze a pea-sized amount onto the scratch to prevent infection. You can also use petroleum jelly (Vaseline cream) if that’s the only thing you have. [5] X Research Sources
- Antibacterial ointments are available at most drugstores.
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Cover the scratch with a personal bandage. Open the personal tape and carefully stick it on the scratches, remembering to cover the antibacterial cream. If needed, you can use more tape to cover the entire scratch on your face. [6] X Research Sources
- Covering scratches is to protect the wound from bacteria and pathogens to prevent infection.
Wound care
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Change the bandage every day. To keep the scratch clean, you need to change the bandage at least once a day or whenever the bandage is dirty or wet. Always use a clean bandage to cover the wound until it heals. [7] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source
- Dirty dressings can allow bacteria to enter the wound, leading to infection and scarring.
- Buy a box of band-aids so you can easily get new ones.
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Keep scratches clean and dry. Take care to keep bandages and scratches from getting dirty or wet. When showering or washing your face, gently remove the bandage, then apply a new bandage when you are done showering. [8] X Research Sources
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Moisten the scratch with petroleum jelly. After you apply antibacterial cream for the first time, you will not need to use antibacterial cream anymore. Next time, just take a pea-sized amount of petroleum jelly to apply to the scratch after each dressing change to keep the skin moist, so the wound will heal faster. [9] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source
- Keeping the skin moist helps the body heal faster and prevents scarring.
- After the wound has closed, you can apply vitamin E to speed up the healing process.
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Apply an ice pack to your face every 1-2 hours to reduce swelling. If your face is swollen or bruised, you can apply an ice pack for 10-15 minutes, every few hours. Apply ice packs to the face to reduce blood flow to the affected area and cool the skin. Do this step for the first 24 hours after the injury. [10] X Research Source
- Shallow scratches don’t usually bruise much, unless near the eye.
Scar prevention
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Avoid peeling the scab that forms on the wound. Scaling is the body’s natural healing process. If you peel off the scab, you can create a bigger, thicker scar, so try not to touch it. [11] X Trusted Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Go to Source
- If you find it difficult to get rid of the scab, you should bandage the scratch so you don’t accidentally touch it.
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Apply SPF 30 sunscreen on healed scratches. Once the scratch has healed, apply sunscreen to protect the newly healed skin every time you go outside. Sun damage can cause deeper and more visible scars, especially on newly healed wounds. [12] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source
- Make it a habit to use sunscreen daily to protect your skin from sun damage.
- Wear a sun hat to protect the scratched skin from darkening.
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Ask your doctor about cream or laser treatments. If you’re really concerned about scarring, ask your doctor if there are ways to reduce your risk. Your doctor may recommend therapies such as steroid injections, topical steroid creams, or laser therapy. [13] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source
- The scratches are often shallow, so medical intervention is rarely needed to treat the scar. However, if you have a lot of scratches or the wound is in a prominent place on your face, you should talk to your doctor for peace of mind.
Advice
- Wash off scratches as soon as possible and keep the injured area warm to speed up the healing process. [14] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to Source
- Always keep the scratched area clean and dry for the wound to heal. [15] X Research Source
- Eat healthy with foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc to help heal scratches, and don’t forget to drink plenty of water.
Warning
- Seek medical attention if the wound does not stop bleeding after 10 minutes of squeezing the bleeding. Maybe your wound needs stitches. [16] X Research Source
- If the scratch is swollen, painful, or has pus, it’s probably infected. Get medical attention quickly. [17] X Research Source
Things you need
Clean up scratches
- Cloth towel
- Soap
- Antibacterial ointment
- Bandage
Heal scratches
- Bandage
- Oil wax (Vaseline cream)
- Ice pack (optional)
Scar prevention
- Sunscreen SPF 30
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This article was co-written by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee is a licensed family physician practicing in Tennessee. She received her MSN from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 3,043 times.
Scratches on the face are a real nuisance, not only because of the pain, but also because the face is where everyone is most afraid of leaving scars. Fortunately, you can treat and care for your scratches at home to help them heal and prevent scarring. If the scratches do not stop bleeding after you have pressed for 10 minutes or if the wound becomes infected, seek medical attention immediately.
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