Steps for Treating a Deep Cut Finger
Treating a deep cut on your finger may require medical help if there is damage to the skin, tendons, ligaments, or bone. Other minor injuries, like shallow paper cuts, can quickly be treated at home with basic first aid.
Control the Bleeding
An accidental cut can be minor or severe. The first step with either is to try to stop the bleeding.1 Doing so will give you a clearer sense of how deep the cut is.
- Minor cuts and scrapes that are oozing a little blood usually don't require any bleeding control. They typically stop bleeding on their own, but you can apply pressure to help this along.
- If the bleeding is heavy, bright red, or spurting, take steps to control it. Your priority should be to apply pressure with clean gauze or a towel and elevate the wound.
- If the finger is amputated, immediately put pressure on the cut to control bleeding and follow the steps for treating an amputation.2 Wrap the amputated finger in moist gauze or a moist paper towel, seal it in a plastic bag, and place it in a container with ice water.
