How to Care for Scrapes and Abrasions

An abrasion simply means that the surface of your skin, the epidermis, has been scraped or broken. It's a minor wound, but that doesn't mean you should ignore it. You still need to treat it so it'll heal and not become infected.

Instructions

• 1

  Stop the bleeding. Even though an abrasion is a minor scrape, there may be bleeding. Hold a clean cloth or bandage against the abraded area. Check it after 15 minutes. A minor scrape stops bleeding fairly quickly.

• 2

  Clean the area to remove any dirt and bacteria. Pour a cup of cool water over the area. Alternatively, place the abraded area directly under cool running water. Apply a drop of liquid soap to a washcloth and continue rubbing the wound very gently.

• 3

  Remove any dirt or debris that remains after scrubbing the area. Clean a pair of tweezers by pouring alcohol over them. Remove the debris with the tweezers.

• 4

  Apply an antiobiotic ointment to the abraded area. You can use any over-the-counter antibiotic ointment (Neosporin and Polysporin are popular choices). The ointment will keep the skin moist, keeping it from cracking, and will also reduce the chance of infection.

• 5

  Cover the area with a bandage or gauze. This will keep the abraded area clean and protected from harmful bacteria.