Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Injury On Corner Of The Eye
Question: My eye hit corner of kitchen cabinent. I went to urgent care they just said soap and water. They didnt do glue or stitches. It looks bad 20 hours later. Any advice so will not scar? Do all cuts scar?
Brief Answer:
Laceration; Apply a topical OTC antibacterial
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have understood it. I have also seen the photograph.
The lesion i can see in the photograph is a laceration. It would leave a scar for sure. However, the scar would be not as wide as the wound, it would contract as it heals and leave behind a thin scar.
Moreover, face tissue being richly supplied with blood, the wounds usually heal faster and well.
You may apply an OTC topical antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin ointment, twice daily, for a few days; till the scab falls off.
Whether a wound will scar or not depends on: the depth of the wound (deeper cuts usually do); whether it is a sharp cut or it is a laceration (a sharp cut such as a surgical incision would have closely approximated edges and therefore would scar less as compared to laceration where the wound edges are irregular); whether it was stitched timely or not (If a wound or cut is stitched shortly after injury, so that the wound edges are closely apposed to each other, it results in a cosmetically good result).
Another factor which governs how a wound heals is the orientation of scar. Face has 'Relaxed skin tension lines(RSTL)'; if the wound/scar is oriented in the direction of RSTL it gives a good result cosmetically in terms of scarring because it is not subjected to stress/tension during healing and vice versa.
The wound that you have sustained is not along the RSTL lines (rather it is oriented transversely to RSTL) therefore it is bound to have some sort of scaring
Regards
Laceration; Apply a topical OTC antibacterial
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have understood it. I have also seen the photograph.
The lesion i can see in the photograph is a laceration. It would leave a scar for sure. However, the scar would be not as wide as the wound, it would contract as it heals and leave behind a thin scar.
Moreover, face tissue being richly supplied with blood, the wounds usually heal faster and well.
You may apply an OTC topical antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin ointment, twice daily, for a few days; till the scab falls off.
Whether a wound will scar or not depends on: the depth of the wound (deeper cuts usually do); whether it is a sharp cut or it is a laceration (a sharp cut such as a surgical incision would have closely approximated edges and therefore would scar less as compared to laceration where the wound edges are irregular); whether it was stitched timely or not (If a wound or cut is stitched shortly after injury, so that the wound edges are closely apposed to each other, it results in a cosmetically good result).
Another factor which governs how a wound heals is the orientation of scar. Face has 'Relaxed skin tension lines(RSTL)'; if the wound/scar is oriented in the direction of RSTL it gives a good result cosmetically in terms of scarring because it is not subjected to stress/tension during healing and vice versa.
The wound that you have sustained is not along the RSTL lines (rather it is oriented transversely to RSTL) therefore it is bound to have some sort of scaring
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Thanks when I went to urgent care a few hours after the accident with corner of kitchen cabinent the doctor said that the wound was already closed so sutures or glue was not needed. She said soap and water was the only thing I needed. I didnt lose much blood and it didnt swell. How long at this point do you think to heal? The dr said she didnt think it would scar and if it did it would be minimal. Any advice to minimize scarring as much as possible? Thanks for help.
Brief Answer:
Practice Asepsis; Tretinoin may be tried later
Detailed Answer:
Hi
The wound would take about a week or so, to heal.
Yes, there wont be much scaring and the scar would certainly be not as wide as the wound; the granulation that you see right now, sealing the wound, would contract to form a thin scar finally.
Since secondary bacterial infection can delay wound healing, which in turn can lead to more scar tissue formation; therefore, at this point it is important to prevent secondary bacterial infection of the wound by providing proper aseptic conditions and let the wound heal quickly without an issue.
In order to do that, you may clean the wound once or twice daily with betadine solution(Asepsis); this would also aid in preventing secondary bacterial infection.
Or else you need to apply an OTC antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin ointment, twice daily.
However, if you notice any discharge or swelling or pain at the site, you must see your doctor immediately.
Your doctor might start you on oral antibacterials at the first sign of secondary bacterial infection.
The final scar would be a millimeter or so wide and would be barely noticeable.
Once the wound has healed, you may use a tretinoin 0.025% Or 0.05% cream, once daily at night to improve the appearance further, if desired. Tretinoin has collagen/ scar remodelling properties.
Tretinoin is a prescription drug; a dermatologist would prescribe it for you.
Regards
Practice Asepsis; Tretinoin may be tried later
Detailed Answer:
Hi
The wound would take about a week or so, to heal.
Yes, there wont be much scaring and the scar would certainly be not as wide as the wound; the granulation that you see right now, sealing the wound, would contract to form a thin scar finally.
Since secondary bacterial infection can delay wound healing, which in turn can lead to more scar tissue formation; therefore, at this point it is important to prevent secondary bacterial infection of the wound by providing proper aseptic conditions and let the wound heal quickly without an issue.
In order to do that, you may clean the wound once or twice daily with betadine solution(Asepsis); this would also aid in preventing secondary bacterial infection.
Or else you need to apply an OTC antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin ointment, twice daily.
However, if you notice any discharge or swelling or pain at the site, you must see your doctor immediately.
Your doctor might start you on oral antibacterials at the first sign of secondary bacterial infection.
The final scar would be a millimeter or so wide and would be barely noticeable.
Once the wound has healed, you may use a tretinoin 0.025% Or 0.05% cream, once daily at night to improve the appearance further, if desired. Tretinoin has collagen/ scar remodelling properties.
Tretinoin is a prescription drug; a dermatologist would prescribe it for you.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
This is what it looks like today will it all scab over? It has gotten smaller. I have just been trying to only wash it with soap and water twice a day and now just putting a little vaseline.
Brief Answer:
Wound looks better
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
It does look better and shrunken than yesterday, however, the picture is a little blurred. I would have preferred a better focused photograph. Can you upload another one?
I would suggest that you apply a topical OTC antibacterial ointment e.g either Mupirocin Or Neosporin ointment. You can easily find one of these from a drug store. It is certainly a better option than vaseline.
Ointments would keep it moist therefore aiding healing and also prevent any bacterial superinfection. You may use them twice daily after washing with soap water.
Regards
Wound looks better
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
It does look better and shrunken than yesterday, however, the picture is a little blurred. I would have preferred a better focused photograph. Can you upload another one?
I would suggest that you apply a topical OTC antibacterial ointment e.g either Mupirocin Or Neosporin ointment. You can easily find one of these from a drug store. It is certainly a better option than vaseline.
Ointments would keep it moist therefore aiding healing and also prevent any bacterial superinfection. You may use them twice daily after washing with soap water.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Is this one more clear it looks it is sealing over in center?
Brief Answer:
Wound is healing well
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Yes, this one is clearer. Thank you. I can see in this picture that the wound is covered with a scab.
The gaping that was seen in the very first picture that you posted a few days back, now seems to have filled up with newly formed granulation tissue and the wound looks level with the surrounding skin.
Once the scab falls off in about 3-5 days, it will reveal a slightly pinkish granulation tissue (pinkish because of vascularity); this would contract/shrink as the scar starts to organize and in the process would also gradually loose its vascularity to ultimately form a linear thin white scar which would be only barely noticeable and might not bother you at all.
You just need to apply an OTC topical antibacterial Ointment as I mentioned in my previous replies.
You can follow up with me a few days later (may be after 2-4 weeks later). At that time you would be able to appreciate the thin linear white scar on close inspection.
You can contact me directly for any future queries: http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-kakkar-s/66939
Regards
Take care
Wound is healing well
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Yes, this one is clearer. Thank you. I can see in this picture that the wound is covered with a scab.
The gaping that was seen in the very first picture that you posted a few days back, now seems to have filled up with newly formed granulation tissue and the wound looks level with the surrounding skin.
Once the scab falls off in about 3-5 days, it will reveal a slightly pinkish granulation tissue (pinkish because of vascularity); this would contract/shrink as the scar starts to organize and in the process would also gradually loose its vascularity to ultimately form a linear thin white scar which would be only barely noticeable and might not bother you at all.
You just need to apply an OTC topical antibacterial Ointment as I mentioned in my previous replies.
You can follow up with me a few days later (may be after 2-4 weeks later). At that time you would be able to appreciate the thin linear white scar on close inspection.
You can contact me directly for any future queries: http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-kakkar-s/66939
Regards
Take care
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
