Help the skin close cleanly
The best way to limit a scar is to let the cut heal promptly while keeping it clean and protected. Rinse it under clean running water to wash away dirt. If it is bleeding, press a clean cloth or gauze firmly on the cut and keep steady pressure until the bleeding stops. If debris will not rinse out, or the wound is deep or gaping, get medical care rather than digging at it.
Once clean, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly and cover the cut with a clean bandage. A slightly moist, covered wound is less likely to dry into a hard scab that cracks or gets pulled off; skin cells can move across the surface more easily. Change the dressing daily, or whenever it gets wet or dirty, and reapply the jelly. Avoid routinely using hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or iodine in the cut: these can irritate or damage tissue as well as kill germs.
Protect the repair as it matures
Do not pick at a scab or repeatedly stretch the cut open. The new tissue beneath it is fragile, and reopening the wound can delay closure and worsen the mark. After the skin has sealed, protect the area from sun; a covering or sunscreen can help keep a healing mark from darkening.
A scar cannot always be prevented—how visible it becomes also depends on the cut’s depth, location, and a person’s skin. Seek prompt medical advice for a cut with edges that will not stay together, numbness, impaired finger movement, or bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure. Some cuts benefit from closure by a clinician, and timely treatment can matter more than any ointment.
