I cut myself with a sharp rock 2 days ago. I’ve been cleaning it with antibiotic ointment and peroxide. It hurts to touch it, and when I move my arm around. It’s a little red too. Is this normal? Is this the best way to treat my cut? Is there anything else I should do to prevent infection?
Cleaning agents like hydrogen peroxide are effective cleaning dirty wounds initially, however, I would recommend cleaning the wound with some sort of wound cleanser or normal saline after the initial wash. Antibiotic ointment is good for topical treatment. Redness around an open wound is usually related to inflammation or infection. I would recommend being evaluated by your PCP or other healthcare professional to see if they recommend oral antibiotics.
Published on Jul 11, 2012