Skinned knees are an inevitable part of life. While we often think of skinned knees as inconveniences, they deserve our attention to begin the healing process. Whether you're young or old, and caring for your knee or your child's knee, you need to take care of a skinned knee quickly to avoid any infection. With proper care, your knee will be back to normal in just a few days.

Stop Bleeding

Most skinned knees will stop bleeding on their own, but if your knee doesn't, apply gentle pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or piece of sanitary gauze. If blood soaks through the cloth, keep it in place and add another piece on top of it. Hold the pressure for 20 to 30 minutes or until the bleeding stops.

Clean the Knee

Rinse your knee with clean, cool water. Use a mild soap on the skin around the wound but not on or in the wound, as it can irritate. Stronger antiseptics or iodine are not necessary to the clean the skin. Remove any remaining dirt with tweezers disinfected with alcohol. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment or cream to the wound. Don't use too much, as a little will go a long way. These products can help keep infections from occurring. Discontinue using any cream or ointment that gives you a rash.

Dress the Knee

Place a bandage over the wound. Adhesive bandages or gauze taped over the wound work well. The bandage shouldn't be too tight because it will decrease blood flow. Change the bandage daily or when it becomes dirty or wet. If possible, sleep without a bandage and apply a fresh one the following morning. Liquid bandages are another option. These bandages stay in place for a few days and fall off on their own. After the scrape heals enough to scab over sufficiently, don't place anymore bandages over it. Most likely, you will not need to apply any more ointment to the wound at this point. It will heal quicker when the chances for infection are low and it is exposed to air.

Help Your Knee Heal

The best thing you can do once you've dressed your knee is to leave it alone. While wounds like these generally itch while they are healing, it is best not to scratch. Scratching slows the healing process and could break open the scab and allow germs to get in, causing an infection.

Source:

Mayo Clinic: Cuts and Scrapes

American Academy of Family Physicians: Caring for Cuts and Scrapes

Marshfield Clinic: Cuts and Scrapes