How to Make Cuts Heal Faster

Minor cuts and scrapes are generally more of an annoyance than a serious health problem. They can cause serious discomfort, especially if they appear on a part of the skin that is easily irritated. Once a cut has stopped bleeding, the best way to speed the healing process is to keep it moist, clean and to keep it from getting infected.

Using a clean cloth or gauze pad, place pressure on the cut or wound to stop any bleeding. The bleeding should stop within a few minutes. If the bleeding is heavy, or does not stop after 10 minutes, continue to apply pressure and seek medical attention to treat the wound.

How to Treat a Weeping Wound

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Clean the wound. Cleaning any dirt and debris out from a cut will help it heal faster. Rinse the wound out with clean water. Don't use soap, as this can irritate the wound. If after rinsing, any debris remains, dip some tweezers in rubbing alcohol and use them to remove anything that could irritate the cut.

Apply an antibiotic cream or ointment to reduce the risk of infection. This speeds healing because an infected cut will take longer to heal. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, keeping the wound moist will prevent the area from getting too dry and forming a hard scab -- which delays the healing process 3.

How to Remove Splinters That Won't Surface

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Cover the cut with an adhesive bandage, or nonadhesive gauze pad with paper tape. Change this bandage daily, adding antibiotic cream or petroleum jelly as needed to keep the area moist and clean as it heals. Once fully healed, any scab that forms should fall off on its own.

Tips

Allow the cut to heal without picking or tearing any of the skin or scab that forms on the surface. Picking at the scab will delay healing. If your cut is jagged, deep, if blood spurts out of the cut or if the bleeding won't stop after 10 minutes of pressure, seek medical attention.