How to Keep a Cut From Scarring

Even the most careful person can have an accident and end up with a cut. Whether it be a light scratch or a serious wound, scarring can happen and prevention is crucial in getting your wounded skin looking back to normal once again. Arming yourself with the right tools and tips for scar prevention can help the next time you get a cut.

Things You'll Need

• Antibacterial soap
• Washcloth
• Antibacterial ointment
• Adhesive bandage or gauze and cloth tape
• Scar cream with onion extract
• Sunscreen with SPF 30

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash the cut once a day with water and antibacterial soap. Make sure to lather the area for one minute to kill all bacteria present. Rinse with cool water.

• 2

  Pat the cut with a clean, dry washcloth. Do not rub the area as this can damage skin and irritate the cut. Let the area air dry for five minutes before continuing.

• 3

  Apply a pea-sized amount of ointment to a clean fingertip and begin tapping the ointment over the cut. Apply more ointment to your fingertip as needed to cover larger cuts. Tap on ointment until there is a light layer covering the entire cut.

• 4

  Place a self adhering bandage over the cut. For larger cuts, cut a large piece of gauze to fit the cut and use cloth medical tape to tape it on. Repeat steps one through four until the cut closes and skin heals over.

• 5

  Continue washing the area once a day with antibacterial soap and water to keep the newly-healed skin clean but discontinue the use of ointment and bandages.

• 6

  Apply a small amount of scar cream to clean fingertips and rub into the area and the skin around it, then wait five minutes so the cream can soak in and dry. Do this three times a day.

• 7

  Apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 to the area and let it set in for five minutes prior to sun exposure. Do this twice a day to prevent any sun exposure from damaging healing skin.

• 8

  Repeat steps five through seven until the skin is healed and no scar is present. If after three months the scar is still present, make an appointment with your dermatologist, as it may require prescription treatment.