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No matter your age, chances are you’ve sustained an injury or two. Some might not have been serious, like scraping your knee. Others may have required medical attention, like a broken bone.
Treatment for these types of injuries relies heavily on a few key elements, including the size, location, and depth of the wound. You may be able to care for minor wounds on your own, while others might require a healthcare provider (HCP). Here’s what to know about at-home treatment, plus ways to tell if your injury is more serious.
Correction: Slide 3 in a previous version of this slideshow omitted that puncture wounds caused by animal bites should always be examined by a healthcare professional. It was updated in March 2025 to include this recommendation.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology Associat... + 14
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. How to Treat a First-Degree, Minor Burn. Accessed March 4, 2025.
- MedlinePlus. Burns. May 28, 2024.
- MedlinePlus. Minor burns – aftercare. September 4, 2024.
- MedlinePlus. Laceration versus puncture wound. November 2, 2023.
- Mayo Clinic. Puncture wounds: First aid. April 24, 2024.
- Shawn Bishop. Mayo Clinic News Network. Wound Location First Thing to Consider when Deciding if Medical Attention is Needed. February 22, 2013.
- Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. Lacerations (Cuts) Without Stitches. Accessed March 4, 2025.
- Micah Dorfner. Treating skin abrasions known as “raspberries.” Mayo Clinic News Network. May 9, 2017.
- Cleveland Clinic. Abrasion (Scrape). June 16, 2023.
- MyHealth Alberta (CAN). Scrapes (Abrasions): Care Instructions. July 10, 2023.
- MedlinePlus. Bruises. November 14, 2016.
- Mayo Clinic. Bruise: First aid. April 17, 2024.
- OrthoInfo.com (AAOS). Muscle Contusion (Bruise). December 2024.
- Cleveland Clinic. When Does a Cut Need Stitches? August 29, 2023.
- KidsHealth (Nemours). When Does a Cut Need Stitches? April 2023.
