Minor Skin Lacerations Treatment- FCCMG

Walk-In Urgent Care Services for Minor Skin Lacerations

A laceration is cut in the skin, resulting in a scrape, scratch, or puncture wound. Lacerations are common injuries that often result from contact with a sharp object. While most lacerations are non-life-threatening, leaving them untreated can increase your risk of infection.

At FCCMG, we offer high-quality laceration treatment seven days a week at our three urgent care locations (Irvine, and Costa Mesa). Visit one of our urgent care centers for prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Highlights of Our Urgent Care Clinics:

Wheelchair transport
On-site lab and x-ray facilities for prompt diagnosis
Open every day, including holidays
Certified, well-trained, and experienced providers
Free and easy parking
Online check-in to reduce wait times

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Types of Skin Laceration

Incisions or Incised Wounds – Resulting from a sharp-edged object such as a razor, glass splinter, or knife (includes incision to the skin while shaving or slicing fruits/vegetables).
Puncture Wounds – Resulting from an object puncturing the skin (injuries caused by an animal bite, nail, and needle).
Abrasions (Grazes) – These are superficial wounds that involve scraping of the topmost layer of the skin, a.k.a. the epidermis (injuries caused by falls, skids, or contact with a cheese grater).

Animal bites that do not break the skin are not lacerations (though there can be compression or crush injuries), but scratches or scrapes that break the skin carry a risk of infection. While cuts and lacerations can lead to infection, puncture wounds have the highest risk. Whether you’ve experienced a scrape or a deep laceration, visit our urgent care center for personalized medical care.

Signs that Require Medical Attention

You should seek immediate medical intervention for a laceration if you experience the following:

Redness or persistent pain at the laceration site
Tingling or numbness around the injured area
Yellow pus oozing from the wound
Fever of 100°F (38.3°C) or higher
The wound has split open

How Do We Diagnose and Treat Skin Lacerations at Our Urgent Care Clinics?

To diagnose, we perform a physical examination that includes checking the wound site for the depth and severity of the injury. We will also review your symptoms to evaluate for possible infection.

Before treating your wound, we will thoroughly clean the injury site and stop any bleeding. Based on the evaluation, we may recommend any of the following treatments:

Skin adhesives
Sutures
Skin-closure tapes
Staples

Your treatment regimen may also include prescription medication; we may also recommend a tetanus booster, as appropriate.

When Are Antibiotics Prescribed for Skin Lacerations?

We may prescribe antibiotics if your wound:

Is from an animal bite or object (as it may be contaminated, leading to infection)
Shows signs of infection (redness, pain, swelling, and pus discharge)
Heals slowly due to having a chronic disease such as diabetes
Is at high-risk anatomical sites, such as on the hand or foot

While mild and moderate infections can be treated with oral antibiotics, severe or moderate infections in high-risk patients may require intravenous antibiotics. We can refer you for this level of treatment if it becomes necessary.

FAQs

Yes, urgent care can treat minor cuts and lacerations. Our medical team is trained to assess and clean the wound, then apply the appropriate treatment, such as stitches, glue, or adhesive strips, to promote proper healing.

A cut may need stitches if it is deep, jagged, or unable to close on its own. If the cut is longer than 1/2 inch, is on the face, or is bleeding heavily, it's important to seek medical attention. Urgent care can assess the severity of the wound and determine if stitches or another method of closure is needed.

Urgent care is ideal for minor to moderate lacerations that do not involve severe bleeding, deep wounds, or significant damage to underlying tissue. If the laceration is large, deep, or caused by a high-risk injury (e.g., animal bite, severe trauma), the emergency room may be more appropriate.

At urgent care, we offer several methods of wound closure, including stitches (suturing), skin glue (Dermabond), and adhesive strips (Steri-Strips). The method used depends on the location, size, and depth of the cut, as well as the patient's overall condition.

Yes, urgent care can provide a tetanus shot if necessary. Tetanus shots are typically recommended for cuts caused by rusty or contaminated objects, or if the patient’s vaccination history is not up to date.

Yes, children with cuts or scrapes can be treated at urgent care. Our medical team is experienced in providing gentle care to younger patients and will ensure that the treatment is appropriate for their age and comfort.

No, you do not need an appointment to receive treatment for a skin laceration at urgent care. Walk-ins are welcome, and our medical team will promptly assess and treat the injury as needed.

At FCCMG Urgent Care, wounds are cleaned with a sterile saline solution to remove any debris or bacteria. Afterward, the wound is evaluated, and the appropriate closure method (stitches, glue, or strips) is applied. We may also provide antibiotics if necessary to prevent infection.

Signs of infection to watch for after a cut is treated include increased redness, swelling, warmth around the wound, pus or drainage, and increased pain. If any of these symptoms occur, it's important to seek medical attention immediately.

Laceration treatments are generally covered by most insurance plans when provided at urgent care. It’s recommended to check with your insurance provider for specific details about coverage, co-pays, and any out-of-pocket expenses that may apply.

Get Prompt Care for Skin Lacerations at Our Urgent Care Clinics

Whether you or your loved one has a cut or laceration, visit our urgent care centers in Irvine Woodbridge , or Costa Mesa, CA, today to get the medical help you need.