9 Signs of an Infected Cut or Scrape You Should Never Ignore

A simple wound, if not treated properly, can quickly turn serious. Here's how to ID signs of a developing infection so you can treat it before it causes real trouble.

There are particles still stuck in your skin

Depending on the circumstance that caused your scrape, such as falling on gritty pavement, it’s possible that small particles could have gotten lodged in the affected area. It’s critical to remove any particles or dirt from your wound immediately, during the cleansing process, according to Sonoa Au, MD, of Advanced Dermatology, PC in New York and New Jersey, or you could have an infected cut. “However,” she adds, “if you find that you have to dig at your skin to get rid of anything that’s stuck, see a doctor instead.” Don’t assume that scrubbing away at your skin is helpful or that dirt will work its way out—and definitely don’t make these other dangerous first aid mistakes. When in doubt, have a medical professional thoroughly clean and assess your scrape or cut.

Mother treating child's infected cut
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You used soap to clean your scrape

Surprised to see soap on the list? It’s just one of the common health products that can be dangerous for you and your family. Regular hand soap can sometimes irritate skin, which may stall the healing process and in turn, lead to an infected cut. Of course, the way everyone reacts to various cleansers differs from one person to the next, but why take the chance when tending to your cut or scrape? The best bet is for you to refrain from using harsh ingredients. “Use a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil to clean the area,” Dr. Au suggests.

applying a band-aid to a cut
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You skipped the bandage

If you think it’s a good idea to let your skin “breathe” after cleaning out a cut or scrape, think again. Dr. Au explains that exposing your skin this way has infection written all over it. “New cells have to migrate to the appropriate areas to help with healing,” Dr. Au explains. “Keeping your scrape covered and moist facilitates this process. Exposing wounds to air does not.” The best way to get on the fast track to healing and help prevent infection is to keep the wound hydrated with ointments like Vaseline, or Aquaphor. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “petroleum jelly prevents the wound from drying out and forming a scab; wounds with scabs take longer to heal.” However, following these tips can speed up healing to get rid of that scab.

doctor's hands wrapping a gauze around a scraped knee
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Your cut is very deep or was caused by rusty metal

Getting a deep wound in general—especially one caused by rusty metal—doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop an infected cut, but it does mean you should seek medical attention immediately. Don’t try to resolve these kinds of cuts or scrapes on your own at home. Dr. Au is adamant about seeing a doctor in these instances because you’ll likely need stitches or at least additional attention above and beyond the at-home application of Vaseline and a bandage. Here’s what to do when you can’t get to a doctor, from a survival specialist.

close up of a scrape above an eyebrow
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Redness around the affected area persists

It’s perfectly normal for skin around the cut or scrape to look different for a while: Redness, some pain, and even the appearance of tissue that’s commonly confused for pus (more on that later) is often par for the course. The warning sign to watch for, according to Dr. Au, is when any of these symptoms seem to get worse rather than better. Redness around a cut or scrape is a sign of healing, for example. But when that color persists or spreads significantly, it may have become infected. See your doctor ASAP—and make sure you’re not picking or rubbing at your cut or scrape.

nurse checking a woman's right arm
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Your pain doesn’t subside

Obviously, cuts and scrapes hurt a little—some hurt a lot. But if your pain lingers to a point that seems abnormal or intensifies instead of gradually improving, then Dr. Au says it’s time to reach out to your doctor about a possible infection. These are other pain signals you should pretty much never ignore.

Person removing a band-aid
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The pus is smelly or green

Two things to look out for if you develop pus after getting a cut or scrape: color and odor. If you observe pus that’s green and/or foul-smelling, that’s a surefire sign of an infected cut that should have you dialing your doctor. But a yellow-ish substance on your cut or scrape? No need to worry. Dr. Au says that what you’re seeing, in that case, is actually something called granulation tissue, which is a part of the healing process and shouldn’t be confused with pus. Here are some more signs of skin irritation to watch out for.

Woman with mug and hot-water bladder
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You feel ill

Although it seems like signs of a skin infection would be confined to your skin, that’s not always the case. As infection spreads, your body mounts a stronger counter-attack—and that can cause systemic symptoms such as fever, nausea, mental confusion, or just feeling out of sorts (did you know there’s a reason why you feel cold when you have a fever?). While everyone is different if you feel bad after a lingering wound, head to a doctor for an assessment of your skin and symptoms. Your infected cut could be getting more serious.

closeup of a woman about to take an antibiotic pill
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When your infection becomes something more serious

Skin infections can escalate into a grave threat, and it can happen literally overnight. Staph infections are one example. According to the Mayo Clinic, these infections are brought on by staphylococcus bacteria, germs that are typically found on the skin of healthy people. They’re usually not problematic; it’s when the bacteria invade your body that a staph infection can turn deadly by creating toxicity in your bloodstream. One of the kinds of infections caused by staph bacteria is cellulitis, which is marked by redness, swelling, sores, or areas that ooze a discharge—typically confined to the feet and lower legs. Impetigo is another skin infection brought on by staph bacteria. It’s a contagious, painful rash that typically results in large blisters along with an oozing fluid and an amber-colored crust. Be sure to see your doctor if you have any of these symptoms or suspect your infection has taken a turn for the worse. He or she may prescribe antibiotics or drain areas of your skin to help improve your condition. Don’t miss these silent symptoms of sepsis, or blood poisoning. It could just save your life someday.

Sources
Medically reviewed by Michael Spertus, MD, on July 31, 2019
Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest

Jennifer Lea Reynolds
Jennifer Lea Reynolds is a journalist and advocate. Her articles on mental-health topics like ADHD, body image, relationships, and grief have been published in outlets including U.S. News & World Report, Reader’s Digest, Woman’s Day, Smithsonian magazine, Mental Floss, and The Huffington Post. She has been a featured guest on national podcasts, including Distraction and Health Check. Reynolds is the founder of The Kindness Couture, an effort dedicated to shedding cloaks of negativity and making sure kindness remains in style. From kindness in the corporate culture to easy ways to demonstrate caring acts, she is dedicated to showcasing the benefits of compassion and empathy. Motivated by her own unpleasant experiences with bullying, Reynolds also draws on research about the decline of workplace kindness. Her Facebook page, The Kindness Couture, provides more information about increasing empathy. Reynolds is the author of two children’s picture books encouraging kindness, compassion, and hope in young people—Carl, The Not-so-Crabby Crab and The Cat Who Loved the Moon. A graduate of Monmouth University, she lives in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.