Guide
Wound care safety.
How to think about small wounds at home, what is not safe to self-treat, and the warning signs that mean: stop and call for help.
Small, superficial scrapes and cuts
For a small, clean, superficial wound on a hand, arm, or leg (not the foot), general first-aid principles apply:
- Wash your hands first.
- Rinse the wound gently with sterile saline or clean water.
- Cover with a non-stick sterile pad and secure with paper tape.
- Replace the dressing daily — and any time it becomes wet, soiled, or loose.
- Watch for any sign that the wound is not improving in 24–48 hours.
Diabetic foot wounds are different
Any foot wound — even one that seems minor — must be evaluated by a podiatrist or wound-care nurse. The combination of reduced sensation, reduced blood flow, and slower healing means a small foot wound can quietly become serious.
What we do not recommend self-treating
- Diabetic foot ulcers.
- Wounds with visible debris or anything embedded in them.
- Animal bites or puncture wounds.
- Burns beyond a small, superficial area.
- Wounds that don't stop bleeding with light pressure.
- Wounds with signs of infection (see below).
Signs of infection — call your provider today
- Spreading redness around the wound.
- Warmth, swelling, or new tenderness.
- Pus, drainage, or a foul odor.
- Fever or chills.
- Red streaks moving away from the wound.
- Worsening pain.
Seek emergency care immediately
- Black or grey tissue.
- Severe pain, especially out of proportion to the wound.
- Spreading infection plus fever or feeling unwell.
- Loss of feeling, color change, or coldness of the limb.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not wait overnight. Time matters.