3 Dangerous Delusions about Treating Cuts

Are you still patching up cuts the same way your grandma did? It’s time to change your ways — those old-time techniques might be doing more harm than good!

Delusion #1: You should clean a cut thoroughly with hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol.

FACT: Both of these cleansers can damage healthy tissue around the wound and delay healing.

Delusion #2: You should apply a topical medication, such as iodine, Mercurochrome®, or Merthiolate® to fight germs.

FACT: Ultra-strong antiseptics can interfere with your body’s natural healing mechanisms. Instead, look for a product that contains natural ingredients, such as St. John’s wort, calendula, or vitamin E oil.

Delusion #3: You should keep the cut dry and let air get to it so that a scab can form.

FACT: Keeping wounds moist and scab-free helps them heal more efficiently and minimizes scarring.

Medical gurus recommend this four-step plant for treating cuts:

1. Stop the bleeding. Cover the injury with clean padding, and apply firm, even pressure.

2. Clean it right. Rinse the cut under running water, or wipe dirt away with a wet cotton ball or pad, moving from the center of the wound outward.

3. Apply a natural antiseptic. Cover it with a nonstick bandage.

4. Keep it clean. Every few days, clean the wound with a mild saline solution (2 teaspoons of salt per quart of boiling water, cooled to room temperature.)

Some cuts are too serious to treat at home. If any of the conditions below describes your gash, get to the ER fast!

• Blood is spurting out and/or doesn’t stop within about 10 minutes.
• You can see yellow fat or red muscle tissue.
• It’s wide and/or jagged; gravel or other debris is embedded in the wound.
• The cut is on a joint or your face.