What Is an Abrasion?

Abrasions are superficial cuts or scrapes to skin that occur due to impact, pressure, or friction. They range from minor to severe and can occur anywhere on the body, including the face, head, back, and legs.

Generally, most types of abrasions are minor and heal within two weeks with at-home care. However, some types of abrasions can take longer to heal and may require medical attention from a healthcare provider.

Types of Abrasions

There are three types of abrasions: linear or scratch abrasions, patterned abrasions, and grazed or brush abrasions. The type of abrasions may signify the cause and severity of the scratch.

Linear or Scratch Abrasions

Linear or scratch abrasions form when an external factor strips away the top layer of skin (the epidermis). These are the simplest types of abrasions and often heal on their own. Linear abrasions are typically the result of a minor injury, such as a nail scratch.

Patterned Abrasions

When an object presses down into the top layer of skin, an impression of the object can form. This is called a patterned abrasion. Within this type are pressure abrasions and impact abrasions. Pressure abrasions require minimal force and result from extended compression of the skin, such as wearing a sock that's too tight all day. Impact abrasions are often the result of a quick, forceful blow, such as getting hit with a stray sports ball, or falling and landing hard on your palms or other body part.

Grazed or Brush Abrasions

Grazed or brush abrasions are scrapes that show up in multiples, resulting from friction against a rough, broad surface. For example, you might get a grazed abrasion if you fall off your bicycle onto pavement and skin your knee. The depth of this type of abrasion can vary depending on the surface and the body's speed and force during the time of injury. Prolonged grazed abrasions are known as brush burns.

Symptoms of an Abrasion

Abrasions can vary in appearance, size, color, and depth. Common symptoms of abrasions include:

• Bleeding that clots quickly
• Swelling
• Redness
• Pain or tenderness
• Bruising around the area

Abrasions are most likely to occur on the head and torso, but are also frequently reported on the legs, knees, arms, and elbows.

What Causes Abrasions?

Abrasions are caused by many different situations and factors. Generally, they are formed by:

• Physical trauma (such as a fall or outer blow)
• Impact against uneven or hard surfaces
• Extended pressure from objects
• Injuries
  

For example, a person riding their bike might fall and scrape their knee on the pavement. Or, an elderly person who is prone to falling may trip and catch themselves with their hands, scraping their palms. A person with thin or fragile skin might experience a mild abrasion from a bandage adhesive.

Risk Factors

Most people will experience at least a minor abrasion at some point in life. However, most reported cases of abrasions are among children. You may be more likely to get abrasions more frequently if you:

• Play sports or engage in activities like biking or skateboarding
• Fall frequently
• Are clumsy or reckless
• Have thin or fragile skin

How are Abrasions Diagnosed?

Abrasions can be diagnosed by a healthcare provider based on location, depth, and severity. In addition to discussing your medical history, your provider will examine the area of the abrasion to determine the best treatment.

If you experience an abrasion or a cut longer than three-fourths of an inch, more than a quarter-inch deep, or have a cut that won’t stop bleeding, visit your nearest hospital or seek immediate medical attention.

Treatments for Abrasions

It's important to treat abrasions right away to prevent infection, scarring, and the abrasion from worsening.

For most minor abrasions, you can wash the scrape with soap and water and cover it with a bandage. Make sure to keep the area clean. If desired, you can apply a petrolatum-based ointment (such as Vaseline) to scrape before covering it with a bandage.

You can also apply an over-the-counter, triple-antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin) to help speed healing, reduce infection risk, and prevent scarring.

In some cases, your healthcare provider might prescribe an antibiotic to prevent secondary infections in large or deep abrasions. However, most people will not need antibiotics or other medications for a typical cut or scrape.

How to Prevent Abrasions

Abrasions can occur due to falls, sports, traffic accidents, and many other causes. While you can't always prevent abrasions from happening, there are some steps you can take to lower your risk of serious injury. To prevent abrasions, there are a number of things you can try, such as:

• Using protective gear (such as helmets) and padding (such as knee pads) during sports activities.
• Using walking support tools, such as sticks or walkers, if you are elderly and at greater risk of falling.
• Performing balance and strengthening exercises to improve your balance and coordination. Some balance-exercise examples include standing on one leg, walking heel-to-toe, and practicing standing from a sitting position.

Related Complications

Abrasions carry the risk of potential complications that could lead to more severe outcomes if not immediately addressed and treated.

The most common complication of an untreated abrasion is an infection of the wound. Cleansing your wound regularly and as instructed by your healthcare provider is essential for proper healing. If your wound is not cleaned properly or frequently, it could become infected. Signs of infection include warmth, odor, delayed healing, and pain.

Another potential complication is the formation of scars. When abrasions affect a large surface area of the body, it is possible for scarring to occur. Scarring mainly affects people who are more susceptible to keloid formation (a condition that triggers the rapid growth of a large scar after injury). If this starts to occur and is caught early enough, intralesional corticosteroid therapy may be used to reduce excess scar tissue.

A Quick Review

Abrasions are superficial scrapes or cuts to the skin's top layer (the epidermis). They are caused by pressure, impact, or friction.

Abrasions can be diagnosed by a healthcare provider based on location, depth, and severity. Care and treatment include regular cleansing with soap and water, applying the appropriate wound dressing, and potentially taking antibiotics.

While most minor cases of abrasions can heal at home fairly quickly, more severe cases may require further care from a healthcare provider. It is important to properly clean and take care of your abrasion to prevent infection or scarring.