Types of Skin Cuts

Minor cuts, scrapes, and abrasions are part of everyday life. The majority of abrasions are accidental and can occur at any time. Abrasions most commonly occur with young children, and during the warmer spring and summer months when skin is more exposed.

An avulsion is a serious soft-tissue injury. It happens when a portion of the skin, and sometimes other soft tissue, is partially or completely torn a An avulsion is a serious soft-tissue injury.

dry, peeling skin occurs as the burn heals; Since this burn affects the top layer of skin, the signs and symptoms disappear once the skin cells shed. First-degree burns usually heal within 7 to 10 days without scarring.

It is a common misunderstanding that an incision cuts through the skin when in fact it typically goes through the skin, the underlying tissue, and often through muscle in order to allow the surgeon to access the surgical site.

A cut (laceration) occurs when the skin is sliced below the surface. A puncture wound is a deep cut that occurs when a sharp object penetrates the skin. A cut can require home treatment or the need for professional care, depending on the location and severity of the wound.

Learn first aid for cuts, scrapes (abrasions), and puncture wounds, when to see a doctor, if tetanus shots are necessary, and signs of infection.

The skin around the ulcer may be red, swollen, and tender. Patients may feel pain on the skin around the ulcer, and fluid may ooze from the ulcer. In some cases, ulcers can bleed and, rarely, patients experience fever. Ulcers sometimes seem not to heal; healing, if it does occur, tends to be slow.