Minor scrapes can be treated effectively at home. If you are not at high risk for infection, do not have other injuries, and do not need stitches or a tetanus shot, you can clean and bandage a scrape at home. Home treatment can prevent infection and promote healing. How a scrape heals depends on the depth, size, and location of the scrape.

A scrape may continue to ooze small amounts of blood for up to 24 hours and may ooze clear, yellowish, or blood-tinged fluid for several days.

Cleaning and caring the wound

• Clean the wound as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection, scarring, and "tattooing." (If dirt or other debris is not removed from a scrape, the new skin heals over it. The dirt can then be seen through the skin and often looks like a tattoo.) Wash the wound for 5 minutes with large amounts of warm water and soap; mild dishwashing soap, such as Ivory, works well. Some nonprescription products are available for wound cleaning that numb the area so cleaning does not hurt as much. Be sure to read the product label for correct use.

• Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or mercurochrome, which can harm the tissue and slow wound healing.

• Scrapes may heal with or without making a scab. Consider bandaging the wound. You may need to protect your wound from getting dirty or irritated. It is important to clean the wound thoroughly before bandaging it to reduce the risk of infection occurring under the bandage. Apply a clean bandage when it gets wet or soiled to further help prevent infection. If a bandage is stuck to a scab, soak it in warm water to soften the scab and make the bandage easier to remove. If available, use a nonstick dressing. There are many bandage products available. Be sure to read the product label for correct use.

• Use of an antibiotic ointment has not been shown to affect healing. If you choose to use an antibiotic ointment, such as polymyxin B sulfate (for example, Polysporin) or bacitracin, apply the ointment lightly to the wound. The ointment will keep the bandage from sticking to the wound. Be sure to read the product label about sensitivity to the skin. If a skin rash or itching under the bandage develops, stop using the ointment. The rash may mean an allergic reaction to the ointment. Antibiotic ointments that contain neomycin may have an increased risk of an allergic reaction.

How a scrape heals

Most scrapes heal well with home treatment and do not scar. Minor scrapes may be uncomfortable, but they usually heal within 3 to 7 days. It is common to have small amounts of fluid drain from a scrape. This oozing usually clears up gradually and stops within 4 days. The larger and deeper the scrape, the longer it will take to heal. A large, deep scrape may take up to 1 to 2 weeks or longer to heal. Drainage is not a concern as long as there are no signs of infection.

Healing process

Scrapes can heal in several different ways depending on the depth, size, and location of the scrape.

• When a scrape removes the outer layers of skin, new skin will form in the bottom of the wound and the wound will heal from the bottom up. This type of scrape initially looks pink and raw. As it heals, the new skin sometimes appears yellowish and may be confused with pus.

• When a scrape removes all of the layers of skin, new skin will form on the edges of the wound and the wound will heal from the edges in to the middle. This type of scrape initially looks white, and fat cells may be seen.

Scrapes may heal with or without a scab, and there will be little difference in the healing time or the amount of scarring.

Scab

• Some scrapes form a scab during the healing process. A well-formed scab protects the scrape from additional injury and infection. Once a scab is formed, the scraped area usually remains dry and does not ooze fluid. If a scab forms over an area of movement, such as a joint, it may crack and be uncomfortable. An infection can develop under a scab.

• Occasionally, a scab may crack, and a few drops of clear yellowish to pinkish fluid may ooze from the wound. A cracked scab causes discomfort, and an infection can develop under the scab.

• During healing, a scab may accidentally get rubbed off ,which causes the wound to start bleeding again. Treat the wound and protect the area so the healing process can begin again.

• Scabs usually decrease in size and fall off as the new skin under the scab is formed.

No scab

• Some scrapes heal without a scab. The scrape may stay moist and pink and ooze fluid or small amounts of blood while healing. Over time, the area turns pink and shiny as the new skin forms. This usually occurs when a scrape is kept covered with a bandage and is washed regularly with soap and water to remove the scab-forming tissue.

• If a scrape is likely to get dirty or infected or if it is not forming a scab, it is better to bandage the scrape and allow it to heal without a scab. This healing process requires more treatment, such as washing off the scab-forming tissue and bandaging the scrape regularly.