Why does cuts itch

This is called a clot, and it stops the bleeding. As a clot dries, it turns into a scab. The scab helps to keep germs out. The skin around the wound may get pink and swollen. Your body releases a chemical called histamine HISS-tuh-meen that helps your cells fight infection, close the wound, and fill it in with new tissue. But histamine causes a kind of allergic reaction that can make you itch.

Your skin also has special nerves that get irritated when skin and tissue grow and stretch to fill in a wound. Tissue growth and rebuilding occur next. Over the next 3 weeks or so, the body repairs broken blood vessels and new tissue grows. Red blood cells help create collagen, which are tough, white fibers that form the foundation for new tissue. The wound starts to fill in with new tissue, called granulation tissue. New skin begins to form over this tissue. As the wound heals, the edges pull inward and the wound gets smaller.

A scar forms and the wound becomes stronger. As healing continues, you may notice that the area itches. After the scab falls off, the area may look stretched, red, and shiny. The scar that forms will be smaller than the original wound. It will be less strong and less flexible than the surrounding skin. Over time, the scar will fade and may disappear completely. This can take as long as 2 years. Some scars never go away completely. Scars form because the new tissue grows back differently than the original tissue.

If you only injured the top layer of skin, you will probably not have a scar. With deeper wounds, you are more likely to have a scar. Taking Care of Your Wound. For minor wounds, clean your wound with gentle soap and water. Cover the wound with a sterile bandage or other dressing.

For major wounds, follow your health care provider's instructions on how to care for your injury. Avoid picking at or scratching the scab. This can interfere with healing and cause scarring. Once the scar forms, some people think it helps to massage it with vitamin E or petroleum jelly.

However, this is not proven to help prevent a scar or help it fade. Do not rub your scar or apply anything to it without talking with your provider first. Certain factors can prevent wounds from healing or slow the process, such as: Infection can make a wound larger and take longer to heal.

People with diabetes are likely to have wounds that won't heal, which are also called long-term chronic wounds. Poor blood flow due to clogged arteries arteriosclerosis or conditions such as varicose veins. Obesity increases the risk of infection after surgery. And yes — in fact, this itching may indicate that the healing process is well on its way. But do watch out! Should your wound be very red, suppurate, or the itching turn into a throbbing sensation, you should definitely consult a doctor because these could be signs of an infection that should be treated medically as soon as possible.

Playing down a small wound? Unfortunately, many of us make that mistake. Though it should be clear to anybody that even the smallest pinprick offers a huge entry hole into our body for bacteria. Therefore: Always treat any wound with appropriate wound care , no matter how small it may be. This helps to prevent infection and will ensure optimal healing. Taking proper care of your injury can seem to produce small miracles; especially if you use the right plaster to cover it.

That is why it is worthwhile to always have a first aid kit at hand as well as a selection of different plasters in different sizes , so that you are be prepared for anything.

Hopefully this has cleared some misconceptions on the topic of wound care and brought you up to date, so that you and your family can benefit from the right wound care. Always see your doctor if the wound is deep, bleeding or shows signs of infection like reddening, swelling or warmth. Also make sure to seek medical help if you are not able to clean the wound properly.

In case you have diabetes a proper wound care is of special importance. Please note that none of the above given tips or recommendations substitute medical advice. Important: consult a health professional in case of any uncertainty of treating your wound properly.

The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care or advice.

If you have or suspect a health problem, you should consult your doctor. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it, because of something you have read on this website. For further information regarding Elastoplast products, please contact us via email on Australia. ConsumerServices Beiersdorf.