Fall, cut, open wound, dirt

[SMJYellow]

I tripped over my own feet while walking and fell flat on the ground. My hands got the brunt of the fall. There's no fracture. There's no bleeding. The cut is not deep. Just skin has peeled away. I rinsed under a tap. The area has dirt embedded on it. I used some cotton ear bud tips and that helped.

Is there anything else I can do to wash the cut. Get rid of the black pieces.

[SMJYellow]

My cut is not deep. It's skin that peeled off from the fall.

I put my hand under cold running water. It does look somewhat a little bit better but there's still black pieces on the surfaces. It looks like debris. I fell on a gravel road so it wasn't a muddy place.

What do you think I can do? Do I phone my gp in the morning?

[simonisnotme]

try soaking it in some water for a bit and use some cotton wool to wipe it, if that doesnt help you may need to see a nurse/doc for a proper clean

[Thesearmsofmine]

Soak in some room temperature water for a while.

[SMJYellow]

Thank you for the replies. I have my hand soaking now.

[Fortheloveofscience]

Honestly? You just need to give it a good scrub out, that's all a nurse would do. Soak it in some warm water then use something like a flannel or the corner of a towel to get the dirt out. You might need to be quite vigorous and it's not pleasant but you can't leave the dirt there.

[SMJYellow]

I spent all evening attending to my hand and I honestly I don't want to spend any more time at this. I would kill for a cup of tea.

I had my hand under running water for about 10 minutes.

I'm soaking my hand since 9.

I used some cotton tips and that helped. I used a face cloth (wet) to rub the wound but there's still pieces of black.


Now I don't know if it's dirt or dried blood.

[SMJYellow]

I'm getting there. There's still some small specks of black.

Headache of a job. So so so sore. Going to take a break for a vape session and go back. Can't wait til I'm all done. I will lash into a bottle and think about going to bed.

[thaegumathteth]

Personally I'd put some antiseptic on it and see what it's like in the morning

[SMJYellow]

I have some alcohol cleansing wipes. They are too stingy.

[Sittinonthefloor]

Soak in in some water with a bit of salt in it. Salt is the biz.

[SMJYellow]

I found some antiseptic cream.

There's still speks of black on the wound.

I used the cream and covered with some some gauze. I just can't spend any more time on this. My other hand also got a bashing during the fall.

I can't do it any more. I can try again the morning picking dirt out for the wounds or make an appointment at the doctors.

[AravisTarkheena]

I had the same thing his week, bit of ingrained dirt even after a bath. I stuck some germoline on it, left it, it's fine.

[SMJYellow]

Would I need a tetanus shot at the doctors?

[FadedRed]

Get some Hydrocolloid dressings from the pharmacist or supermarket. They heal by keeping the wound moist and the gravel will come out with the exudate.

[slipperywhensparticus]

It will work its way out

[ToothlessAndHiccup]

Tetanus is only if you fall on metal
I think? I wouldn't bother a doctor (even in normal times) for a few days at least. You'll be fine.

[Looneytune253]

I think you'll be fine. It's just like a kids graze. They're usually a bit discoloured round the edges. As long as you've cleaned and disinfected it you'll be fine

[DoubleTweenQueen]

A long soak in a hot bath usually does the trick, followed by some antiseptic cream if necessary, but only if superficial scrape, which yours is? Then important to let it dry - no plasters. Should be absolutely fine. My children would skin their legs & knees fairly regularly, with accompanying grit/dirt. Never had a problem with healing or infection. The grit will come out - looks like you haven't actually broken through the skin layer.

[thejollygargler]

Tetanus is only if you fall on metal I think?

Tetanus is caused by a toxin made by spores of bacteria, Clostridium tetani, found in soil, dust and animal feces.

[Khione]

If your hand isn't too sore could you think about giving your hair a good wash. I've no idea if it will work but it's the only thing that seems to get my nails clean when I've been gardening.

[SMJYellow]

Thanks for all the replies. I got up extra early this morning. One of my hands still didn't look too good. I gave my hands another soak. Applied some more antiseptic. They don't look as bad now.

One of my upper arms is stiff.

I still don't know what to do about the tetanus. If I should phone for a tetanus shot.

[SMJYellow]

I wouldn't be able to wash the hair at all. Torture.

[dementedpixie]

No you dont need tetanus for a surface graze. Is that not only for deep wounds? A few small specks of dirt is fine. Just keep an eye on it

[thaegumathteth]

In the kindest way possible I think you need to not worry so much about it. It's just a graze . If it becomes pus filled or very very red and spreading then contact doctor but otherwise just leave it.

[Thesearmsofmine]

You sound very anxious about this.

If you’ve cleaned it then it will likely be fine, my dc are currently sporting grazes on their arms and legs just like these as they have been outside a lot. We just give it a clean and that’s it really.