How to Heal a Skinned Knee

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Although a skinned knee is a relatively minor abrasion, you still want to take steps so that it heals as quickly and safely as possible. With a few easily available supplies, you can clean and care for the wound. Take the right steps, and you'll be back to normal as soon as possible.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Assessing the Situation

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  1. Most of the time, a skinned knee is a relatively minor problem and treatable at home, but inspect your wound just to be sure. A wound is considered minor and treatable without medical attention if: [1]
    • It is not deep enough to see fat, muscle, or bone.
    • It is not spurting blood.
    • Its edges are not jagged and far apart.
    • If you do notice any of these conditions, contact a doctor immediately.
    • If you haven't had a tetanus shot in ten years, see a doctor and get a booster.
    • If you haven't had a tetanus shot in five years and the wound was caused by something dirty or is a puncture wound (a wound that's deeper than it's wide), see a doctor and get a tetanus booster. [2]
  2. You do not want to cause an infection when treating your skinned knee, so wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before taking care of it. [3] If you want extra protection, put on disposable gloves before cleaning the skinned knee.
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  3. If there is any bleeding on your skinned knee, stop it by applying pressure on the site. [4]
    • If dirt or debris is blocking the spot where the knee is bleeding, rinse it off before trying to stop the bleeding. If the debris remains, remove it with tweezers cleaned with rubbing alcohol. If you cannot remove the debris, see a doctor. [5]
    • To stop the bleeding, hold a clean cloth or gauze over the bleeding portion of the wound and apply pressure for a few minutes.
    • Change the cloth or gauze if it becomes soaked with blood, but do not lift up the gauze to check for bleeding. [6]
    • If the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes, contact a doctor, as stitches may be required. [7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning and Dressing the Wound

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  1. Let cool water run over your skinned knee, or pour it over it. Do this long enough to make sure that the water has flowed over the entire area, and washed away any loose dirt and/or debris. [8]
  2. Use antibacterial soap and water to clean around the wound, but try not to get soap in the wound itself, as this can cause irritation. [9] This will help to wash away bacteria and keep away infection.
    • Hydrogen peroxide and iodine were traditionally used to disinfect skin wounds, such as a skinned knee. However, hydrogen peroxide and iodine can damage living cells, so medical professionals now advise that you should not apply them to a wound. [10]
  3. If anything is stuck in the wound, like dirt, sand, splinters, etc., use tweezers to carefully remove this material. First, clean and sterilize the tweezers by rubbing them with a cotton ball or gauze soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Rinse with cool water once the debris is removed. [11]
    • If dirt or other material is lodged so deeply in the wound that you cannot get it out, contact a doctor.
  4. Once you have rinsed and washed the skinned knee, gently use a clean cloth or towel to dry the area. Patting rather than rubbing it dry will help you avoid unnecessary pain. [12]
  5. You may have heard that all cuts and scrapes need an antibiotic ointment, but this is not the case unless the wound may become infected (like if it was caused by a dirty object). For most scrapes and cuts, a thin layer of petroleum jelly is sufficient to keep to wound moist and encourage healing. [13]
    • There are numerous types of antibiotic creams and ointments, containing different active ingredients or combinations (bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin, for example). Always carefully follow the directions provided with your cream regarding the amount to use and method of application.
    • Some antibiotic creams have mild analgesics incorporated as pain relief.
    • Some antibiotic ointments and creams may cause an allergic reaction in some people. If you notice redness, itching, swelling, etc. after using one of these products, stop using it and try a white petroleum ointment like Vaseline or Aquaphor instead (studies show that simply keeping the wound moist may be just as effective as using an antibiotic cream). [14]
  6. Make sure to cover your skinned knee with a bandage to protect it from dirt, infection, and irritation from clothing during the time it needs to heal. You can use an adhesive bandage, or sterile gauze held in place with tape or an elastic band. [15]
    • Small abrasions less than 2 inches (5 cm) long may not need a bandage because of their small size.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Caring for the Wound as it Heals

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  1. Change the bandage covering your skinned knee daily, or more frequently if it becomes wet or dirty. [16] Wash any dirt away from the area, as before.
    • Research demonstrates that removing an adhesive bandage quickly rather than slowly will probably cause less pain, although it depends somewhat on the nature of the wound. [17]
    • Rubbing the ends of an adhesive bandage with oil and letting it sit for a few moments might help remove the bandage with less pain.
  2. Unless your wound becomes infected, antibiotic ointment isn’t needed. Simply keeping the wound moist with a thin layer of petroleum jelly is enough to promote healing and help prevent scabbing and scarring. [18] Each time you reapply your bandage, reapply the petroleum jelly (at least once a day).
    • Switch to an antibiotic ointment and apply up to 3 times a day if you notice signs of mild infection like pus, spreading redness, or increased pain or swelling. [19]
  3. Exactly how fast your skinned knee will heal depends on a number of factors, like your age, nutrition, whether or not you smoke, your stress level, if you have an illness, etc. Moreover, antibiotic creams will only stave off infections, not actually heal the wound faster. If your wound seems to be healing abnormally slowly, check with a medical professional, as it could be a sign of something more serious, like an illness. [20]
    • Typically, your wound should show signs of healing within 5 days. If it does not, see a doctor right away. [21]
  4. You will need expert attention if you notice: [22]
    • The knee joint stops working.
    • Your knee feels numb.
    • The wound bleeds and won’t stop.
    • There is dirt or other foreign material in the wound that you can’t get out of it.
    • The wound site becomes inflamed or swollen.
    • Red streaks radiate from the wound.
    • The wound site drains pus.
    • You run a fever of over 100.4° F (38° C).
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I do about a deep cut?
    Jonas DeMuro, MD
    Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon
    Dr. DeMuro is a board certified Pediatric Critical Care Surgeon in New York. He received his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed his fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and was a previous American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellow.
    Jonas DeMuro, MD
    Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon
    Expert Answer
    A deep cut should be seen by your physician. A deep cut over the knee can involve the underlying bone or the joint capsule, which is more serious than a simple skin injury.
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  • Question
    What if the scrape is on top of the knee, pus is coming out, and I can't bend my knee?
    Jonas DeMuro, MD
    Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon
    Dr. DeMuro is a board certified Pediatric Critical Care Surgeon in New York. He received his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed his fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and was a previous American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellow.
    Jonas DeMuro, MD
    Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon
    Expert Answer
    When pus is coming out of a wound by the knee, the wound is likely infected. If the knee cannot bend, this can be due to infection or a fracture commonly. In both cases, the problem should be seen by a doctor emergently to determine the specific treatment.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Water
      • Antiseptic soap
      • Tweezers
      • Clean towel or cloth
      • Antibiotic cream
      • Bandages

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
      2. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
      3. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/hand-washing/art-20046253
      4. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/18163.htm
      5. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cuts/basics/art-20056711
      6. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
      7. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
      8. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tp22233spec
      9. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
      1. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
      2. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
      3. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25079-abrasion
      4. ↑ https://www.aad.org/news/when-to-use-antibiotics-skin
      5. ↑ https://health.osu.edu/health/skin-and-body/wound-care-myths
      6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25079-abrasion
      7. ↑ https://www.ucihealth.org/blog/2018/10/wound-care
      8. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20028307/
      9. ↑ https://www.ucihealth.org/blog/2018/10/wound-care
      10. ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/wound-infection/
      11. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000741.htm
      12. ↑ https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/wounds-cuts-and-grazes
      13. ↑ https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/wounds-cuts-and-grazes

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