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CareersMinor skin wounds often occur as the result of unanticipated trauma and may include lacerations, cuts, abrasions, blisters and puncture wounds. Going to an urgent care center for diagnosis and treatment can make sure that a minor cut, laceration or wound does not become infected and dangerous. The medical professionals at Manatee Urgent Care can help treat various types of wounds and lower the risk of infection.
Types of Wounds
- Lacerations are irregularly shaped wounds often with ragged skin edges. There is often deeper skin damage and bruising.
- A cut usually has clean edges as a result of the cause of injury, e.g., a sharp knife. If deep, these wounds can bleed profusely and nerve and muscle damage can occur. Sometimes cuts require stitches to stop the bleeding and lead to wound care.
- Abrasions or grazes are more superficial wounds in which the top layer of the skin is removed from the skin sliding across a rough surface. These injuries often contain dirt and gravel and need to be cleaned to properly heal.
- Blisters are the result of friction between the top two layers of the skin. A puncture wound is a wound made by a pointed object such as a nail or knife.
- A puncture wound doesn’t usually cause excessive bleeding. Often the wound seems to close almost instantly. But this doesn’t mean treatment isn’t necessary. A puncture wound, such as from stepping on a nail can be dangerous because of the risk of infection.
Watch Out for Signs of Infection
Wound infection is one of the largest risks for minor traumatic wounds and open wounds. These are considered “dirty wounds” as they often contain debris and bacteria from the cause of the injury. A visual check for the presence of foreign material, its removal and careful wound cleansing may precede the application of a wound dressing. Wounds require cleaning to prevent infection, encourage wound healing and start the healing process. If you haven’t had a tetanus shot within five years, your doctor may recommend a booster within 48 hours of the injury.
A severe cut can be a traumatic experience that requires immediate medical attention and medical care, in which case 9-1-1 should be called and you should go to the emergency room.
Urgent Care for Cuts
An urgent care center can be a great place to accurately diagnose your cut and learn about the best way to treat your injury, which includes providing emergency medicine, if needed. If the injury is minor, then you may have concrete instructions on how to start feeling better, sooner.
If the problem is worse, a trip to urgent care can help with the pain and get your injury in front of the right specialist. Cuts and scrapes are common with children, but it’s best to visit an urgent care center to avoid further issues with the cuts such as an infection. Manatee Urgent Care is here to help you or a loved one looking for urgent care treatment for minor cuts, lacerations and wounds.
Contact Us Now
Manatee Urgent Care, located in Bradenton, Florida, is open seven days a week with convenient daytime and evening hours for patients needing urgent care treatment. Manatee Urgent Care’s team of medical professionals are here to help with minor cuts, lacerations and wounds.
