How long for a cut to heal?

Skin Care article posted on Jan 18, 2009 by Joséphine Beck, Digestive Care Advisor & Optiderma Founding member

How long it takes for a cut to heal has no definite answer because it depends on many factors and each individual. It can take from several days to a few years. However, if you do the right things from the beginning, you should be able to speed the healing process and avoid permanent scarring if possible. Here are some pieces of advice for the quickest way to heal a cut.

How long for a cut to heal?
What to do first to speed healing a cut?
Best ways to heal cuts naturally...
Interview with Danny O'Rawe, N.D.: all about cuts and essential oils
Other articles on cuts, wounds and scrapes
Useful links about cuts

How long for a cut to heal?

Time for healing a cut is variable. It mainly depends on:

The size of the cut. If it is too deep and large, stitches may be needed otherwise the cut won't heal well on its own.
If there is an infection that is going to slow down the healing.
On the person. Some people are faster healers than others...
Other health problems. For example, diabetes and obesity are common causes of slow wound healing.
Age. See this study: Wound healing time increases with age (Wellsphere.com)
Location of the cut. Areas that move or are more sensitive require more time to heal.

Light cuts usually heal in about a week. However there is not definite answer and it could take much more time even for a minor cut.

What to do first to speed healing a cut?

First, do the right thing from the beginning to increase your chance of healing faster. This means evaluate the severity of the injury. Medical treatment is required when:

There are still remaining debris that could infect the wound.
The cut doesn’t stop bleeding.
It is deep and large.
An infection ensues.
The cut is located on sensitive skin.

In any case, it is important to focus on reducing the bleeding and avoiding infection as soon as possible to speed the healing process:

Apply pressure on the cut to stop the bleeding.
Wrap a cloth or a compress around it (this cloth should be absorbent and sterile – at least clean).
Continue to apply pressure on the cut with your hand.
Raise the injured part above the level of the heart. It reduces bleeding.
When the bleeding is controlled, apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel until it begins to feel numb. This helps constrict blood vessels.
Take some arnica pills to stop excessive bleeding and speed healing. Homeopathy is a safe remedy to use for everyone.

Best ways to heal cuts naturally...

In case of minor cut:
Ensure the wound is clean before application of any external treatments. Washing the wound well with soap and water – at least for several minutes.
If you’ve got garlic (to fight infection), or turmeric (to stop bleeding) at home, you could apply one of these home remedies on the wound and bandage it.

How to heal a cut with herbal remedies

To accelerate healing, there are herbs like Comfrey and Gotu Kola. Aloe Vera gel is also often used to soothe the pain. Bayberry, Goldenseal, Echinacea, Chamomile, Calendula gel, St John’s Wort Oil fight bacterial infection.

It is advisable to protect cuts with a bandage if there is a major risk of infection and irritation. Otherwise open air is better for quicker healing. The wound should be always be clean but don’t use chemical soap because you don’t want it to dry out.

How to support healing with nutrition

Eat vitamin rich, fresh, raw vegetables and fruits. They provide enzymes to boost your immune system. Dark green and orange vegetables contain beta-carotenes, which are important to speed up healing.

Limit dairy products, sugar and white flour, since they slow down tissue regeneration.

As for supplementation:

Vitamin C, Bioflavanoids, and Vitamin A to promote healing and fight infection.
Vitamin E (internal and external) to help prevent scars.

Interview with Danny O'Rawe, N.D.: all about cuts and essential oils

How to use essential oils to heal a cut: Essential oils have properties that have been applied in traditional medicine since ancient times and are still widely used today for the treatment of a variety of problems, including cuts. Danny O'Rawe has spent over 30 years working with plants, practicing as a Herbalist, Naturopath and Aromatherapist. Read what he has to say about aromatherapy and the way to use essential oils to heal cuts.

Useful links about cuts

Cuts (healthlinkbc.ca)
Cuts and lacerations (emedicinehealth.com)
How stitches help kids heal (Kidshealth.com)
Ask an expert: Average healing time for wounds (netwellness.org)

If you think this article may be useful for others and want to link to it, please use the following format: Beck, Josephine. "How long for a cut to heal" Optiderma.com. Jan 18, 2009. http://www.optiderma.com/en/they-talk-about-it/skin-articles/how-long-for-a-cut-to-heal.html

According to your own experience, tell us how long it took for your cut to heal!

Comments from the community (34)

"Mommy" on 2012-01-20 at 00:00:00

I was jogging two weeks ago in wet weather. I tripped, then fell with my elbow hitting a jagged rock hidden in the grass. About a week later, I noticed the scab on my elbow was thicker than usual, but I tried to keep it clean and let it heal normally. Well, two days ago, I was sitting down watching some TV when I saw a baby spider on my forearm, so I quickly brush it off. With a few seconds i saw two more crawling up my arm from my elbow. That's when I started to panic. My elbow scab has broken open and 20 to 30 baby spiders came running out. As you can probably imagine, I was freaking out. Now I've got all these spiders following me around my house thinking I'm their mommy. My girlfriend is thinking about leaving me, but I can't just abandon my babies!

"Gmoney" on 2012-01-17 at 23:47:31

Side cut I was Just cut myself and needed stitches so my healing time maybe different then your character. It's been a week and it's healing nicely. Hardly bothers me at all. I'd guess 2 more weeks and it will be just a scar.

"beltway-boy" on 2011-12-07 at 05:44:16

Garlic on a wound is likely not a good idea. Best is Hydrogen peroxide flush, followed by a sterile pat-dry, then application of Silver Nitrate Gel, then a bandaid for protection. I coat the fabric pad on my bandaids with a thin layer of antibiotic ointment which--in my opinion--will serve to seal the moisture from the silver nitrate gel. Finally, apply calamine ointment which contains zinc oxide on the surface of the limb closest to the wound. If wound is on a leg, then coat that leg with calamine (zinc-oxide) lotion every other day. Do not apply the calamine on the wound, rather stay 1/2 inch circumference away from the bandaided area, and cover entire leg. If wound is on the arm, then do this to the arm.

"Anonymous " on 2011-11-27 at 10:05:14

Thank you for the helpful tips! Would this work for eczema? Thank you.

"side cut" on 2011-10-28 at 14:28:54

i'm trying to find out healing times for a book i'm writing - the character gets a small cut from a sword (about 3 inches long, 2 or less deep) and I want to know how long it would take to heal.

"anonymous" on 2011-10-27 at 21:13:30

i actually cut my right hand pointer and i actually feel not a single pain and its small ut very deep, it wont stop bleeding for a long time and this skin is keloidal so what am i suppose to do with it

"Dangerous when bored" on 2011-10-22 at 09:46:00

I was sitting in my basement watching a movie and i went over to one of the drawers. I reached in and was met with a sharp poke in my thumb. An EXACTO knife was sitting in the drawer, brand new, and had punctured my thumb which began to bleed profusely. I didn't tell my parents yet and I've just clean it out as best as possible but i'm worried about infection. Any advice?

"anonymous" on 2011-10-05 at 17:00:08

i made a mistake and cut myself on my belt very deep. I know this may sound weird but i could see it heal right before my eyes, 20 minutes later it healed on its own. Strange maybe or a miracle.

"surgery cut." on 2011-08-27 at 15:24:24

hello there. i just had an appendix surgery, and when they took out the staples out, it didnt hold my skin together completely. there's a but on my stomache about 2.5 cm and 2 cm deep. they didnt want to re-stitch it just in case it caused anymore problems for me, so i have to leave it to heal by itself. i really need this to heal fast because im trapped at home, im not allowed to move, i cant even work. i need to know how long it will take for it to heal and in the article above it said limit dairy products but the doctor said i should have lots of protein and calcium.

"help please" on 2011-08-24 at 09:29:46

i fell on the blacktop and school and scraped my elbow really bad now after two months the surface of the scrape dark pinkish soft strech surface and its surrounded by a light black scab like layer i have no clue why its like this.

"feeling foolish" on 2011-08-18 at 00:00:00

Hi, I was on a zero turn lawn mower mowing grass at a local school and decided to mow under a sign at the school. To make along story short I ended up cutting my middle finger on my right hand very deep and nick an artery. I ended up where in the end with 7 stitches and my pride hurts. Keeping the wound clean with a antiseptic and applying polly sporn to the finger look better every day.

"Matteo" on 2011-07-17 at 04:18:57

I was in a work shop when a router fell and cut my palm open and I used arnica as a treatment fo the pain. It works. I'm not so sure about it speeding the healing. I also used bio oil. Which contained oil from. Rosemary. Lavender. Aloe vera. And also contained plenty of vitamins. It is important when healing to also watch what you eat. For example eat vitamin fruits. And take daily vitamins. Good luck with the healing.

"Mike" on 2011-06-17 at 20:44:30

i was cutting something with a razor blade it slipped and nicked my big toe, not deep or anything, i put iodine on it and it quit bleeding and stinging and now its sore. but its healing up!

"Whole Living" on 2011-04-22 at 21:24:17

In response to "Homeopathy... really?": Arnica is quite far from a sugar pill, and it seems you should do a bit more research (and spell check) before spreading your own misinformation. Using arnica as an example of the "crock" you refer to, it has been used for hundreds of years to reduce inflammation and therefore aiding in swelling reduction and pain relief. Natural healing through nutrition and plants has proven effective for quite some time. It's fine if you'd rather not use these natural methods, but please don't discount something that has real results.

"Homeopathy....really?" on 2011-04-21 at 11:05:58

"Take some arnica pills to stop excessive bleeding and speed healing. Homeopathy is a safe remedy to use for everyone". I simply do not know what to say to this. Clearly you have had some medical training but was it down an alleyway or perhaps in a scientologist clinic? Homeopathy is a a complete crock. I understand the idea of a placebo but homeopathy companies clearly do not. They are taking advantage of those who are un-aware of the extreamly small nature of functional groups in homeopathic drugs. I think it is a disgrace you are recommending these glorafied sugar pills, stick the the real medicine.

"dinner accedents" on 2011-04-04 at 02:52:16

i cut my finger with a sharp big knife while i was making dinner and i was bleading a lot, the bleading didnt stop that fast and the cut was very deep and it hurted a lot. everytime i washed my hands or washed the dishes, or wet my hands, it would feel like someone is applying fire on it. it took about two months to heal but it left a scar. REALLY HURTSSS! :(

"Carloz 303" on 2011-03-06 at 00:48:41

Ok so one day i was trying to take pictures on top of my roof so i could post them on Facebook. I thought it was a great idea but soon discovered it wasn't. I got too close to the edge of the roof and i wondered at that moment what if i jump off imitating the kid from karate kid. So i just decided not to do it since that would be stupid. Well, to make a long story short i took the pics then i got off. Before i was safely on the ground the ladder slid where it was against the edge of the roof and i fell to the side i think i flipped and i landed on a metal stick that was cemented on the ground. It got stuck about one inch deep on the flesh right between my man boob and my arm. My friend helped me get up i rinsed the wound with water. I applied anti-biotic ointment and its healing up good.

"Mercedes" on 2011-01-29 at 03:54:34

So my brother has a really big cut and I was worried that he would have to get stitches but he did'nt. He got cut with a really rusty and dirty nail in the hallway. But he is really scared so could someone write me back and tell me if you think he has to get stitches or if he has to get his foot cut off. We can't go to the doctor yet. he can't walk on his foot at all and we are really worried.

"my wife has a open wound" on 2011-01-11 at 09:31:42

what can i do with my wifes open wound caused by a bed sore .which was caused from a car wreck 6 yrs before .they say she short time left

"Socks could work!" on 2010-12-04 at 00:55:29

I was drunk and I fell on a table and broke its legs. My elbow had a small cut to the bone. The blood was streaming and we didn't have any thing to stop it. On, of my friends graped a single socks and put some tissue and wrap my hand and the blood stopped. They sprayed some cologne on the wound. But luckily I didn't felt it. It talk a month to heal and it left a scar.

"Brett H" on 2010-10-31 at 18:40:47

Hi i just broke my arm about 2 days ago and the doctor said I would have to be in a cast for about 2 or 3 month.It totally sucks.Not what I wanted to hear but o well it happened so it looks like i will have to deal with it.I hope the time goes by quick so i can be back to normal again.I work on the computer all day so its going to really SUCK.=(

"Michelle " on 2010-10-31 at 18:26:02

I fell Friday off my bike riding my bike home from walmart. I got gash on my knuckle and two smaller not as noticeable on each side of the big cut its really sore though.I wonder how long it will take to heal.I also hit my elbow on the sidewalk and my thumb on my other hand got bent back its not as bad though as my knuckle.

"Weak." on 2010-10-09 at 23:28:23

Get rid of that homeopathy comment. Homeopathy is NOT a good or safe suggestion - the gullible ones out there might think it'll prevent an infection, which it absolutely will not do. A blood infection can put you down in hours - not days, hours. Proper medical treatment is important when it comes to traumatic injury.

"libs" on 2010-10-09 at 18:28:08

i had stitches taken out a very delicate area and the wound wasnt fully closed! now left with nurse visits daily and a longer wait for recovery :(

"Dave D." on 2010-09-25 at 23:01:20

"Homeopathy is a safe remedy to use for everyone" - Right, that's because anything Homeopathic has no active ingredients left. While they're safe, they do absolutely nothing other than placebo effects.

"Vicky" on 2010-09-02 at 17:06:29

My bf was playing handball & he ripped the bottom skin of his foot off. What can he do to heal it?

"SD" on 2010-07-02 at 16:30:21

My daughter cut her hand in between her fingers. She is five. the wound was small but deep and the doctor closed it with dermabond. When I changed the gauze and tape she cried and I am having a hard time telling if she is scared or if she is in pain. The cut looks good, no redness or swelling. I wondered if I should give her something for pain.

"use this" on 2010-05-12 at 05:28:05

liquid bandage

"kezrama" on 2010-05-10 at 21:00:18

i scraped the top of my hand a week ago and it still hasnt healed. it was a clean minor looking cut but seems to look worse now. its all reda round the outside and the scab is coming off eventhough it isnt fully healed. im a bit worried it could be infected. my wounds have taken a long time to heal in the past i wonder is there a vitamin dificiency or something that stops wounds from healing well?

"Josephine" on 2010-05-10 at 00:00:00

As I am not a Doctor, I can't give you any diagnosis. The best thing to do is really to show your cut to a doctor if you suspect an infection or if it takes a really long time to heal. Signs of infection usually include red skin around the wound, discharge containing pus, swelling, warmth, foul odor, and fever. Many things can slow down the healing process. Infection is a big one, but it could also be due to poor circulation, diabetes, a vitamin deficiency as you are mentioning (like vitamin C or E). You can also read this article: poor/slow wound healing (http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C233696.html). They are also talking about zinc and EFA deficiencies.

"pseudo" on 2010-05-05 at 10:13:11

i got a deep cut beside my toe..i think i can see my flesh..i've seen a doctor..and he gave me some medicine..will it heal?im worried

"waldo" on 2010-05-03 at 01:43:42

um ye from what iv'e read there a cut should heal within a week maby more yea but like ive had some pritty nasty cuts that have healed in hours/days like i fractured my nose about a month ago and within a week it had fully healed itself and i didn't do anything to it and iv'e had cuts that have healed fully in hours and just left small scars

"Miss Jones :)" on 2009-10-30 at 00:00:00

i fell over a couple of says ago and i was wondering how can i speed up the heeling process ..on my knees iv got big but not very deep cuts that are quite flat...they have blueyy pink purpleyy bruises surrounding these gashs.. and a slite gash on my hand...HELP ME

"Gyzmo" on 2009-03-18 at 00:00:00

I went skating skiing the other day and I cut my finger after a nice fall going downhill... I didn't pay attention to it because i thought it was a small cut. But of course it got infected. I just put colloidal silver 3 times a day and soaked my finger in sea salt water and it helped get rid of the infection. Putting a bandage slowed down the healing process so I stopped putting any bandage on it. I don't know how long it's going to take to heal completely but I got rid of the infection and it looks much better. It's been more than 2 weeks though, and it is not completely healed because it is a part of my finger that moves a lot...

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