Treatment

To take care of a puncture wound:

1. Wash your hands. This helps prevent infection.
2. Stop the bleeding. Apply gentle pressure with a clean bandage or cloth.
3. Clean the wound. Rinse the wound with clear water for 5 to 10 minutes. If dirt or debris remains in the wound, use a washcloth to gently scrub it off. See your health care team if you can't remove all of the dirt or debris.
4. Apply an ointment. Apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment (Neosporin, Polysporin). For the first two days, rewash the area and reapply the antibiotic when you change the dressing. Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop using the product and seek medical care. For those people who could have an allergic reaction to antibiotic cream or ointment, petroleum jelly (Vaseline) may be used.
5. Cover the wound. Bandages help keep the wound clean.
6. Change the dressing. Do this daily or whenever the bandage becomes wet or dirty.
7. Watch for signs of infection. See a doctor if the wound isn't healing or you notice any increasing pain, pus, swelling or fever. Spreading redness is a sign of infection. You may not be able to see redness on brown or Black skin, or the infection's streaks may look purplish-gray or darker than your usual skin color.