During the summer months, it is important to spend time outdoors while the weather is nice. Although playing outside is great, the chances of experiencing a minor injury like a cut or a scrape while outdoors are higher than indoors. If you suffer an injury outdoors, it is important to know how to treat it so that you can avoid developing an infection. Gravel, sand and other debris can get embedded in minor injuries and lead to an infection. Keep reading to learn more about signs that your cut or scrape is infected and what to do.
At AFC Urgent Care North Bergen, our walk-in clinic offers same-day care for minor injuries including cuts and scrapes. We are able to provide care to patients of all ages, and we never require that you schedule an appointment in advance to receive prompt care. Simply walk into the clinic when it’s convenient for you or schedule your visit online.
How to Determine If a Minor Injury Requires Medical Care
In most cases, minor injuries like a small cut or a scrape is nothing to worry about. However, if you do get injured while outside and break the skin, you are at risk for developing an infection which could delay your healing process. Surfaces like pavement can cause small pieces of asphalt, dirt, and other contaminants to become lodged in your skin. This foreign body can lead to an infection.
If you cut yourself on a dirty surface outside, you should always be very careful to clean out the injury thoroughly. Visiting urgent care is the best way to ensure that the injury is clean which will prevent infection. For small children, it is a good idea to visit urgent care to ensure that the injury is sufficiently clean to prevent an infection from developing.
Keeping the Injury Clean
If your injury is minor, you can clean it at home. Most healthcare professionals recommend that you wash the affected area with warm water and a mild soap. Using harsh treatments like hydrogen peroxide can kill the skin, lengthening the healing process and potentially causing scarring. Instead, use warm soapy water every day and apply an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin. Covering the injury while you’re active will help prevent it from becoming dirty, but it is not necessary to keep it covered at all times if you are cleaning the injury regularly.
Signs You Have Developed an Infection
If you injure yourself and break the skin on an outdoor surface, your chances of infection are heightened compared to if you cut yourself indoors on a clean surface. Regardless, an infection is not a big deal for a small injury and usually can be treated at home.
Common signs of a mild infection include:
- Redness around the cut
- Swelling in the affected area
- Increasing discomfort around the cut
- Fluid or pus draining from the injury
If your symptoms are extremely painful or your injury doesn’t seem to be improving after a few days, you should seek medical care.
Visit AFC Urgent Care North Bergen for Rapid Same-Day Injury Care in North Bergen, NJ
Minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes may not be a cause for concern in most cases. However, it is important to watch for signs of an infection and ensure that you’re properly cleaning and treating the injury to prevent infection. If you notice signs of an infection, AFC Urgent Care North Bergen can help. Our team of medical providers is available 7 days a week to provide rapid injury care to patients in North Bergen, Fairview, Union City & Guttenberg, NJ.
We accept most major medical insurance plans and offer affordable care. Our medical providers are board-certified and able to provide rapid treatment for patients of all ages. Simply walk into the clinic when it’s convenient for you or schedule your visit online by clicking here.
