It's extremely important to care for minor cuts and bruises to reduce the risk of infection and decrease any scar tissue formation. Here are some good tips to follow for minor wound care.

For minor cuts or wounds, the first thing to do is to wash the wound properly with soap and water. This will decrease the chance for bacteria to grow in the open skin wound, and will therefore decrease the risk of infection or abscess formation.

Cover the wound with antiseptic ointment or cream before covering it with a bandage. This will help to promote healing and reduce formation of keloid scar tissue.

Use the proper size and type of bandage for the wound. If the cut is very deep, then it is usually better to use a butterfly bandage to ensure the open edges of the cut are kept in place while it heals. This will reduce scar tissue formation. The other option is to go to the emergency room and get stitches to help promote proper healing.

If the wound covers a large area, cover the wound with a piece of gauze before placing the bandage on top. Make sure you cover the entire area of the wound with the gauze. You can purchase gauze infiltrated with petroleum jelly which helps to trap moisture in the wound and increases cell regeneration more rapidly, and it will allow little air to pass through.