How to Identify and Treat an Infected Cut

Your skin is resilient and acts as a protective barrier. But it’s common to get cuts and scrapes even during everyday activities. Sometimes, you may get a deeper cut or wound from an injury. With care, these cuts usually heal over time. But sometimes, cuts can become infected.

There are many signs you may notice when your cut is infected. Knowing what to look for is essential to care for the infection before it worsens.

Common Symptoms of an Infected Cut

An infection happens when germs get into the tissues exposed by a cut or wound. You may notice the symptoms of an infected cut develop or worsen over time. The most common signs of an infected cut include:

• An increase in pain or discomfort over time.
• Fever or a feeling of malaise.
• Redness or itching at the cut site.
• Swelling and warmth around the cut.

You may also see wound drainage or pus coming from the cut. You may see a change in wound drainage and red streaks around the cut as the infection worsens. These signs often mean your infection is spreading and may need medical attention.

What Does an Infected Cut Look Like?

Cuts can look very different depending on the type of trauma that caused them and where they are on the body. Cuts that are from new injuries may be red and swollen. A fresh cut may bleed, or clear liquid may ooze from the damaged skin. But these symptoms do not necessarily mean that the cut is infected.

An infected cut may become red and swollen over time. Infection can prevent a cut from closing or cause a partially healed cut to reopen. Red streaks that spread away from the cut may mean the infection is spreading into new tissue. You can treat minor infected cuts at home. But red lines or a reopened wound may mean you need medical help.

How to Treat an Infected Cut

Many over-the-counter products can help you treat minor infections at home. You can apply antibiotic ointment to the cut. You should also keep the area clean and dry as much as possible. Although a bandage helps prevent dirt from entering the cut, it can also create a moist environment. Trapped moisture can increase your risk of infection. You may want to leave the cut unbandaged to allow it to dry.

Some infected wounds need medical attention. If left untreated, infection from a cut can spread to other parts of the body. If you feel achy or have a fever, your infection may be spreading. Red streaks from the cut can also mean the infection is spreading. You may need prescription antibiotics or wound care. A doctor may also need to clean out or close your cut with stitches.

Take Care of Infected Cuts By Visiting Baptist Emergency Room & Urgent Care

Infected cuts can become serious health issues very quickly. If you’re from the Navarre, FL, area and need medical attention for an infected cut, go to Baptist Emergency Room & Urgent Care.

Baptist Emergency Room & Urgent Care's emergency room is open 24/7, and urgent care is available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Appointments are unnecessary - walk in, and our healthcare professionals are ready to help at both of our locations.

Navarre - 8888 Navarre Pkwy., Navarre, FL 32566. Call the center at 850-750-5698.

Nine Mile - 9400 University Parkway Suite 101A Pensacola, FL 32514. Call the center at 448-227-4600.

Baptist Emergency Room & Urgent Care is comprised of board-certified ER-trained physicians and professionally trained ER nurses who deliver quality medical care. Our urgent care and emergency room can effectively treat various medical conditions. From fever to fractures, allergies to abdominal pain, and colds to concussions, we have you covered with on-site labs, CT, X-rays, and ultrasound.