If the cut isn’t very deep or long, you’re fine to treat it on its own. If it doesn’t heal within a week though, seek medical help.

You can use a mild, unscented soap if you’d like. For deeper wounds though, this may irritate it and cause additional pain. If you do use soap and find that your foot stings a little after you’ve bandaged it, unwrap it and continue to rinse it out before bandaging it again. Use tweezers to carefully remove any dirt or foreign objects if you walked on something with your bare skin.

You don’t have to get rid of all of the blood. A little blood will actually help the wound close as it dries. You don’t want blood to be soaking through the bandage, though. Give your foot 2-3 minutes to air dry if the skin is still damp after you’ve dried it.

You can use petroleum jelly instead of antibacterial ointment if you prefer. Your wound will heal faster if you keep it clean, covered, and moistened with antibiotic ointment. Clean your wound and change the dressing twice a day, or whenever your bandage gets soiled.

For the wound to properly heal, the entire laceration needs to be covered by the bandage. If you don’t have a bigger bandage, you can use a series of smaller band aids. This isn’t preferred though, since there may be gaps in between your bandages.

You can wrap a band aid in your fabric bandage as well to keep it dry and keep air out. Most fabric bandages are adhesive. If your bandage isn’t, you can use a strip of cloth tape to secure it.

Do not take more than 3,000 milligrams of acetaminophen a day, if possible. The maximum dosage for adults is 4,000 milligrams, but for many people this too much and they’ll start experiencing an upset stomach. Stay closer to 3,000 milligrams a day to play it safe if you can. [7] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source

Don’t overdo it with the ice. There are diminishing returns if you leave it on for too long, and you can actually prevent the wound from healing naturally.

These ointments typically contain pramoxine hydrochloride, which slightly numbs your skin to relieve pain, itching, and irritation. [9] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source

While you’re resting, elevate your foot above the level of your heart as much as possible. This will help improve circulation, prevent inflammation, and promote faster healing.

Change your bandages whenever your feet get wet.

If your symptoms get worse instead of better, see a doctor. Don’t wait a full week if things keep getting worse.