Types of Face Injuries

• Cut or Scratch. Small cuts heal on their own. Deep cuts and cuts on lips may need stitches or glue to heal with less scarring.
• Bruising. Swelling and bruising can get worse for a few days after an injury. The bruising may show below the injury. Bruises go away on their own over a few weeks. Bruises may change colors as they heal. If you have bruising around both eyes, call your doctor. This can be a sign of a broken bone.
• Fractures (serious) can happen from hard hits to any part of the face. Symptoms of a facial fracture are:
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Sore to touch
  • Changes to face shape
  • Vision problems
  • Numbness
  • Trouble chewing
• Facial fractures sometimes need surgery to fix the bones. Call your doctor right away if you think you have a fracture.

Neck Pain:

• Any head or facial injury could lead to a neck injury.
• A broken neck can be deadly. Always call your doctor if you pass out or have a bad head or facial injury.

When to Call for Face Injury

Care Advice for Minor Face Injuries

Small Cuts, Scratches or Scrapes Treatment:

• The face has a good blood supply which means that it bruises and swells easily. It can bleed a lot if there is a wound. It also means that it often heals well.
• For any bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound. Use a gauze pad or clean cloth. Press for 10 minutes or until the bleeding has stopped.
• Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. Protect the eyes with a clean cloth.
• To avoid scarring, even small wounds may need some form of wound closure, such as paper stitches or glue. This is also true of wounds that cross the edge of the lip. Ask your doctor if you are not sure what is needed.
• For cuts or scrapes, use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Put it on the cut 3 times a day. Do this for 3 days.
• Cover large scrapes with a bandage. Change daily.

Swelling or Bruises with Intact Skin:

• Cold Pack. Put a cold pack or ice wrapped in a wet cloth on to a bruised area. Do this for 20 minutes. This will help stop the bleeding and swelling. Repeat as needed. Do not put the ice directly onto the skin.
• Bruising. A black eye often takes 1 to 2 days to show. You may see bruising lower down your face than the actual site of the injury.
• Sleeping propped up at night will help reduce swelling and may help with pain as well.
• Then Heat. After 48 hours, use a warm wet cloth for 10 minutes. Do this 3 times per day. Reason: to help reabsorb the blood.

Chemical Splashes on the Face (can be minor or serious):

• Wash the skin right away with clean water.
• Get someone to check the information on the bottle of the chemical (if available) for what to do if you get the chemical on your skin.
• If in doubt, wash the skin for 15 to 20 minutes and seek care.
• The Poison Control Center is a good resource for what to do and how to manage chemical splashes. Call them at 1-800-222-1222.

Pain Medicine:

• To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
• Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
• Use as needed but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the package.
• If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.

What to Expect:

• Minor cuts and scratches, as well as bruises, are harmless.
• They usually heal within about 2 weeks.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Pain becomes severe
• Swelling and redness occurs around the eye
• Changes in your vision
• A lot of swelling happens
• Fever occurs
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.




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