FIRST AID BASICS
Beyond Cuts & Scrapes: How to Treat Other Types of Minor Wounds
There are plenty of minor wounds that you may encounter aside from your everyday cuts and scrapes. Understand how to properly treat & care for other minor wounds including splinters and sprains, so you can heal quickly.
Splinters: How to Remove & Treat
When tiny slivers of wood, glass, or metal lodge in or under the skin, they can cause redness, swelling, and pain, and can become infected. Small splinters that don't hurt can be left to work themselves out.
Here’s how to remove splinters and treat them to avoid infection:
Wash hands with soap and water.
Wipe the tweezers, needle, and area around the splinter with antiseptic and then dry.
Loosen skin around the splinter with a needle. Then use tweezers to remove it. (If splinter breaks or is deeply lodged, see a medical professional.)
Apply antibiotic ointment and cover with an adhesive bandage.
Treating & Caring for Sprains
Injuring the soft tissue around a joint can cause swelling, discoloration, and tenderness or pain. Here’s how you can treat a sprain effectively to help it heal faster:1
Take all the pressure off it—so no walking if it’s a knee, foot, or ankle sprain.
Ice it for 15 minutes to an hour. Don’t apply ice directly to the skin or submerge in icy water; wrap it in a towel or use an ice pack.
Use a wrap to compress the area around the sprain, though not too tight.
Elevate the sprain above the heart if possible to help minimize swelling.
If pain persists for more than two or three days, consult a doctor.
References
- How to Treat a Minor Sprain, https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/video/video-how-to-treat-minor-sprain
Links to other parties’ articles and websites are provided for convenience only. Kenvue is not responsible for their content.
Related Products
Related Articles
FIRST AID BASICS
Protect Yourself: Covered Wounds Heal Faster
It’s true! Scientific studies show that cuts, scrapes, and burns heal quicker when covered versus uncovered.
FIRST AID BASICS
Before You Bandage: Cleaning & Caring for Injuries
From cleaning small cuts to treating head wounds, understand what you should do the minute an injury happens to help minimize trauma, clean and close a wound properly, and maximize healing.
FIRST AID BASICS
Follow Up and Follow Through
You’ve had an injury, and it’s been treated. Now what? How you follow up with care is just as important as the initial treatment. Taking a few minutes each day to inspect your injury and care for it properly can help your wound heal faster.