Download Article
Download Article
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.
Steps
-
Check the wound. Most of the time, a skinned knee is a relatively minor problem, treatable at home—but inspect your wound just to be sure. A wound is considered minor and treatable without medical attention if: [1] X Trustworthy Source University of Rochester Medical Center Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research Go to source
- 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.
- 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.
-
Wash your hands before treating the wound. You do not want to cause an infection when treating your skinned knee, so wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before starting to take care of it. If you want extra protection, you can also put on disposable gloves before starting to clean the skinned knee. [2] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to sourceAdvertisement
-
Stop any bleeding. If there is any bleeding on your skinned knee, stop it by applying pressure on the site. [3] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source
- If dirt or debris is blocking the spot where the knee is bleeding, rinse it off before trying to stop the bleeding. Otherwise, rinse and wash the wound area after stopping the bleeding.
- 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.
- If the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes, contact a doctor, as stitches may be required. [4] X Trustworthy Source University of Rochester Medical Center Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research Go to source
Advertisement
-
Rinse the wound. 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. [5] X Research source
-
Wash the wound. 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. [6] X Trustworthy Source University of Rochester Medical Center Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research Go to source [7] X Research source hhttps://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000043.htm 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 actually damage living cells, so medical professionals now advise that you should not apply them to a wound. [8] X Trustworthy Source University of Rochester Medical Center Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research Go to source
-
Remove any debris. 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. [9] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- If dirt or other material is lodged so deep in the wound that you cannot get it out, contact a doctor.
-
Gently pat dry. 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. [10] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
-
Apply an antibiotic cream, especially if the wound was dirty. This can deter infection and help the wound as it heals. [11] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source
- 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 creams have mild analgesics incorporated as pain relief.
- Some 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 another one with a different active ingredient.
-
Cover the wound. 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. [12] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
Advertisement
-
Apply fresh bandages as needed. Change the bandage covering your skinned knee daily, or more frequently if it becomes wet or dirty. [13] X Research source 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. [14] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source [15] X Research source
- 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.
-
Reapply antibiotic cream daily. While this alone doesn’t make the wound heal faster, it will stave off infection. An antibiotic cream will also keep a wound moist as it heals, which will prevent the scabbing and scarring that may result if a wound dries out. Generally, creams can be applied once or twice a day. check with product directions for frequency. [16] X Research source
-
Pay attention to how the healing is progressing. 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 you 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. [17] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source
-
Contact a doctor if things seem to get worse. You will need expert attention: [18] X Research source
- If the knee joint stops working.
- If your knee feels numb.
- If the wound bleeds and won’t stop.
- If there is dirt or other foreign material in the wound that you can’t get out of it.
- If the wound site becomes inflamed or swollen.
- If red streaks radiate from the wound.
- If the wound site drains pus.
- If you run a fever of over 100.4° F (38° C)
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionWhat should I do about a deep cut?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.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.
-
QuestionWhat if the scrape is on top of the knee, pus is coming out, and I can't bend my knee?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.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.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Antiseptic Soap
- Tweezers
- Clean Towel or Cloth
- Antibiotic Cream
- Bandages
References
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/personal-hygiene/hands.html
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/18163.htm
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
- ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tp22233spec
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
- ↑ hhttps://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000043.htm
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2978
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25079-abrasion
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25079-abrasion
- ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2004/0601/p2647.html
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25079-abrasion
- ↑ https://www.ucihealth.org/blog/2018/10/wound-care
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20028307
- ↑ https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2009/191/11/fast-versus-slow-bandaid-removal-randomised-trial
- ↑ https://healthcenter.vt.edu/content/dam/healthcenter_vt_edu/assets/docs/WoundCare.pdf
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000741.htm
- ↑ https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/wounds-cuts-and-grazes
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 620,985 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I wasn't sure if the the knee should be bandaged or left open. I was debating on putting peroxide on it or not. Thanks for your help! Now to nurse my patient, after I go to the store to get the supplies. " ..." more
Advertisement
100%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"I wasn't sure if the the knee should be bandaged or left open. I was debating on putting peroxide on it or not. Thanks for your help! Now to nurse my patient, after I go to the store to get the supplies. "
..."
more
"The Question section helped me find out more about if my wound was infected. It's always great to check that section to get clearer information, I'm glad it is public!"
..."
more
"My brother pushed me over on gravel and this article helped me to clean my wound. It's amazing how painful just a minor injury is!"
..."
more
"This article was very helpful, as it shows steps one would not consider. I like the positive view of how to face every situation."
..."
more
"I skinned my knee and wasn't sure what to do. Thank you so much! (My wound was not infected, by the way!)"
