Cuts, Scrapes, and Burns

When it comes to cuts, scrapes, and burns, our clinics provide fast and effective treatment for injuries that are more serious than what can be managed at home, but not severe enough to require a trip to the emergency room. We specialize in handling these types of injuries.

While not every cut, scrape, or burn will require medical attention, there are several circumstances where seeking professional care is important to ensure proper care and avoid further complications.

Cuts

Deep wound: Wound may require stitches
Uncontrolled bleeding: When bleeding doesn’t stop after applying pressure for several minutes
Risk of infection: Cuts from rusty or dirty objects, animal bites, etc. require thorough cleaning and possible antibiotics
Foreign objects: If debris like glass or wood is stuck in the wound, medical attention is needed to safely remove it

Scrapes

Signs of infection: Redness, swelling, warmth, or pus, can indicate that the scrape isn’t healing properly
Embedded debris: Dirt, gravel, or other materials needed to be removed from the wound to prevent infection

Burns

Moderate burns: First- or second-degree burns larger than three inches or located in sensitive areas such as the face, hands, feet, joints, or groin.
Pain management: Burns causing severe pain may require pain management
Blistering: Require professional draining and dressing
Signs of infection: Increased redness, pus, or worsening pain in the burn area
Chemical or electrical burns: While not life-threatening, these burns require professional evaluation and care as they tend to be more complicated in nature, and require a more in-depth evaluation/treatment

Find your PromptMed Urgent Care, here.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a third-degree burn, call 911 immediately.

Characteristics of a third-degree burn

Leathery texture: skin appears stiff and leathery
Color changes: burn area is black, white, brown, yellow, or charred
No blisters: third-degree burns are NOT characterized by blisters as the damage destroys the structures that make blisters
Numbness: due to nerve damage, the burn area may feel numb or is lacking sensation