Scratches and Abrasions
Synopsis of Scratches and Abrasions
Scratches and abrasions are superficial injuries that occur when the skin is scraped or rubbed off due to contact with a rough surface. Unlike deep cuts, abrasions usually affect only the outermost layers of the skin (epidermis) and are not typically associated with heavy bleeding. However, they can sting, ooze fluid, and become infected if not properly cleaned. Scratches, caused by sharp objects like fingernails, thorns, or animals, can break the skin in linear patterns and may bleed slightly. Most minor abrasions and scratches heal without medical intervention, but care is essential to prevent infection and scarring.
Types:
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Linear scratches: Thin, straight marks typically from sharp objects or nails
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Grazes (abrasions): Surface-level scraping that may cover a broad area
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Road rash: A type of abrasion caused by falling on a rough surface like asphalt
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Infected abrasions: Red, swollen, and possibly pus-filled if bacteria enter the wound
Common Causes:
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Accidental falls or sports injuries
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Scraping against rough or sharp surfaces
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Animal scratches or bites
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Gardening, hiking, or outdoor activities
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Children’s play-related injuries
Severity Causes:
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Failure to clean the wound properly
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Deep scratches that damage the dermis
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Immunosuppression or poor circulation
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Frequent re-irritation or scratching
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Contaminated objects causing the injury
When to See a Doctor:
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Signs of infection (increased redness, swelling, pus, or warmth)
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Deep or long scratches that may require stitches
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Animal scratches that break the skin (due to rabies/tetanus risk)
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Wounds that don’t heal within 7–10 days
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Presence of a foreign object in the wound
Natural remedies for Scratches and Abrasions
Aloe vera: Speeds healing and soothes inflamed skin. Its antibacterial and moisturizing properties help protect the wound and prevent scarring.
Honey (especially medical-grade Manuka): Acts as a natural antiseptic, promoting wound healing and reducing infection risk when applied to clean skin.
Calendula (if included in proprietary blends): Used traditionally to speed skin regeneration and reduce inflammation. Effective in creams or ointments.
Slippery elm bark: Forms a soothing barrier over minor wounds and supports tissue healing by calming inflammation and promoting hydration.
Turmeric: Has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Can be applied as a paste or taken internally to support the healing process.
Chamomile: Calms irritated tissue and reduces redness. Can be applied as a compress or used in skin salves for minor abrasions.
Vitamin C: Promotes collagen production and tissue repair. May be taken internally or used in topical formulations for healing support.
Zinc: Supports immune function and wound closure. Topical zinc oxide creams or oral zinc supplements can accelerate skin regeneration.
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Scratches and Abrasions
aloe vera
bayberry
beeswax
bisabolol
black walnut
chamomile
turmeric
dyer’s woad root
glycerin
iodine
Japanese sophora
lauric acid
mucin
protease
slippery elm bark
keratin
vitamin C
zinc
parthenium
chickweed
paederia foetida
lilac
boxthorne
yarrow
moss
amber
oriental arborvitae
tartarian aster
wintergreen
camphor oil
cleavers
wood betony
white oak
melaleuca alternifolia
isoparaffin
denatured alcohol
geranium
arnica
impatiens
7-Hydroxyfrullanolide
Asclepias cordifolia
Amber
Alpha polylactate
Asoka
Abies alba
Aloe Polysaccharide
Asshide Glue
Aquilegia viridiflora
Arisaema erubescens
Alpha-terpineol
acacia
Agrimony
Antirrhinum majus
Arnica
Ammonium Hydroxide
Aminopeptidase
Achyranthes
Arnica (unspecified)
Arum Lily
Aloe vera
Anserina
Almond Oil
Amber resin
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Anemone
Aquilegia formosa
Allantoin
Asiatic Dogwood
Alkanet
Aloe
Acemannan
Alum
Asarabacca
Abuta
Alkanna
Aloe macroclada
American Bittersweet
Arisaema
Ash (unspecified)
Albumen
Bee Propolis
Betuligneol
Beeswax
benzyl alcohol
Babchi
Bai Ji
Baliospermum
Black spruce
Blackthorn
Bleeding Heart
Bridges' Penstemon
Benzalkonium chloride
Blue Pigment
Black-Eyed Susan
Blackbrush
Bayberry
Balsam Poplar
Boar
Beech
Brazillian peppertree
Bugbane
Bisabolene
Bisabolol
Bloodroot
Benzoin
Begonia fimbristipula
Bindweed
Benzoic acid
Borate
Bulbous Buttercup
Black Poplar
Blue Wiss
Baby Blue Eyes
Bletilla
Boxwood
Benzyl benzoate
Black Alder
Benzoin siam
Balsam of Peru
Barbary matrimony vine
Bush Monkey Flower
Babassu
Birch polypore
Black root
Black Walnut
Bittersweet
Beeswax
Brown's Larkspur
Boric acid
Calochortus
Comfrey
Carnauba wax
Candleberry
Cetyl myristate
Cetyl palmitate
Calotropis gigantea
Campsis tagliabuana
Caper spurge
Chenopodium Oil
Cetyl Esters
Carboxypolymethylene
Carvacrol
Candelilla wax
Cattail
Copolymer
Cocoa Butter
Columbine
common lilac
Cornus sanguinea
Cornflower
Commiphora gileadensis
Cabbage Rose
Camphor
Common Thatching grass
Common Zinnia
Cynoglossum grande
Copper Yeast
Chinese rice paper plant
Clematis (unspecified)
Cedar
Campylandra fimbriata
Cetyl Laurate
Centipeda minima
Clerodendron
Cottonseed
Campsiandra angustifolia
Camphor
Cranesbill
Common Beech
Chinese Thoroughwax
Carrapichinho
Chinese Plumbago
Common dogwood
Cedrus libani
Clematis vibalba
Ceanothus integerrimus
Cosmos
Cyanthillium cinereum
Castile Soap
Chiococca alba
Cotton
Cocklebur
Copaiba Oil
Cherokee Rose
Calyptridium umbellatum
Catlaw Buttercup
Dye Indigo
Dragon's Blood (unspecified)
Diatomaceous Earth
Dense Fruit Dittany
Desert Lily
Dragon's Blood
Devil's Club
Dianthrone
Dwarf Nettle
Davilla rugosa
Deerbrush
Dyer's Broom
Denatured alcohol
Egg Albumen
Erigeron (unspecified)
Elephant Vine
Ethoxylated Castor Oil
European hazel
English Elm
Esterase
Eustephia
Epifagus virginiana
Emu Oil
English Plantain
Elkweed
Eupatorium
Euphorbia (unspecified)
Elemi
Erythronium purpurascens
Fiesta Flower
Flour
Figwort
Formosan Sweet-Gum
Ferric oxide
Ficin
Fleabane (unspecified)
Field Maple
Fern-leaf yarrow
Fumaritory
Fireweed
Fir (unspecified)
Four leaved grass
Garlic pear
Gleditsia
Gycerite
Glyceryl monolaurate
Glyceryl oleate
Gumweed
Gambir
Garden Forget Me Not
Genipa americana
Glyceryl caprylate caprate
Geranium (unspecified)
Glyceryl monolaurate
Gluconic acid
Glycerol-silica
Ghatti
Geranium
Gorse
Glycerol monolaureate
Graphite
Golden Ragwort
Garrya
Golden Willow
hydrastine
Henbane
Heliopsis
Humboldt Lily
Hydrogenated castor oil
Hardwood Tree (unspecified)
Hederacoside
Hydrastine
Hartstongue
Hemlock spruce
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Hound's Tongue
Haliotis
Henna
Hairy Arnica
Hyaluronic acid
Hydrogen peroxide
Hyaluronic Acid
Homalomena occulta
INCINERATE
Insect wax
Impatiens (unspecified)
Isopropylmyristate
Isobutylamides
Immortelle
Illite
Isopropanol
Insect wax
Jewelweed
Japanese arisaema
Jojoba Oil
Japanese camphor
Jessica's Sticktight
Kochia
Kelloggii's Monkey-flower
Lacquertree
Loess
Levant Cotton
Lichen Oil
Lac insect
Lactoperoxidase
Lauric acid
Latex
lac resin
Lanolin
Lactic Acid
Lignite
Lauric acid
Lanolin
Lygodium
Lantana camara
Leptospermum scoparium
Lubricant
Lysimachia
Labdanum
Maritime Dock
Missouri Snakeroot
Mountain Bluebells
Mountain horopito
Mustard (unspecified)
Myricyl Alcohol
Mineral wax (unspecified)
Monardella odoratissima
Mountain mahogany
Magnetitum
Mahonia (unspecified)
Mariposa Lily
Microtea debilis
Methylated silica
Microcrystalline wax
Marking Nut Tree
Manchurian Thorn
Mesophyllum
Nonionic surfactant (unspecified)
Oak (unspecified)
Ocotillo
Ornamental Jewelweed
Omphalia
Oriental arborvitae
Octyl Glycerate
Purple willow
Purple Tephrosia
Psacalium peltatum
Purple Avens
Piperoylpiperidine
Papain
Peroxide Hcl
Polyvinylpyrrolidone
Povidone
Potassium hydroxide
Pellitory-of-the-wall
Praying mantis
Pyrogenium
Pepper Bark Tree
Plumeria lancifolia
Polypodium (unspecified)
Pubescent Holly
Proteolytic Enzymes (Proteases)
Peacocks Tail
Pink Root
Pellitory
Panthenol
Polyacrylate
Poke
Paraffin wax
Phenol (unspecified)
Poly wax
Propylene Glycol
Plumbago zeylanica
Parthenium
Polypodium vulgare
Peroxidase
Petroleum
Pacific Madrone
Palm wax
Phosphorus
Plant wax (unspecified)
Povidone
Polyvinyl alcohol
Poloxamer
Parenchyma
Potentilla (unspecified)
Papain
Prolase
Pyrophyllite clay
Quebracho
Queen's Delight
Rugose Rose
Rosin
Red Sandalwood
Rupturewort
Red Alder
Red Soapwort
Rhus coraria
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Robinia Pseudoacacia
Rice Wax
Red Spiderling
Rosa californica
Rhus glabra
Sanicle
Silver nitrate
Sargentodoxa
Sausage Tree
Scarlet Paintbrush
Silverweed
Sitka Spruce
Small-flowered willow herb
Soft rush
Smooth Alder
Skunk Cabbage
Sangre de Grado
Snakeroot (unspecified)
Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
Southernwood
Spiraea (unspecified)
Shellac
Sodium bisulfate
Sucrose
Sequoia (unspecified)
Siberian Elm
Soapberry
Sugar maple
Stearoyl vanillylamide
Separating agent
Spanish Moss
Sodium silicate
Stillingia
Sapindus mukorossi
Splendid Mariposa Lily
Silica cellulose
Silver
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sulfur
Star of Bethlehem
Shepherd's Purse
Storax
Stone Root
Styrax balsam
Silver (usp)
Sodium choleate
Sulphur
Stannous Chloride
Transforming growth factor alpha
Teucrium marum
Trumpet Vine
Terpinen-4-ol
Thuja
Tridax
Tartarian aster
Tillandsia (unspecified)
Tolu Balsam
Tristearate
Tubbeflower
Triplaris peruviana
Tansy
Tea Tree
Toadflax (unspecified)
Type A polymers
Tea Tree Oil
Thuja plicata
Tynanthus elegans
Urea
Ulmus davidiana
Vegetable Wax (Unspecified)
White Dead Nettle Flower
Wax (unspecified)
Wax (unspecified)
White Heather
Wild Hyacinth
Wrightia tinctoria
Wintergreen
Witch Hazel
White Oak
Wild Daisy
White-leaf Manzanita
White Ash
Woodwardia
White Poplar
Western Buttercup
Wood
Wild Cherry
Wax
Weak Jumby Pepper
Willow Bark
Waltheria ovata
Yerba Mansa
