Key takeaways

  • A scraped or skinned knee can often be treated at home if the injury only affects the surface. More severe wounds might need medical attention to prevent infection and ensure proper healing.
  • Cleaning the wound thoroughly and keeping it covered with a clean bandage helps in healing and reduces the risk of infection, which can delay recovery.
  • Watch for signs of infection, such as swelling, skin discoloration, or pus. Seek medical advice if these symptoms appear, especially if the wound might have been exposed to dirt or rust.

A scraped or skinned knee is a type of abrasion injury that typically occurs when you rub your knee against a rough surface during a fall, such as on gravel or concrete.

Scraped knees, often referred to as road rashes, are common injuries — especially in children. They typically only affect the uppermost layers of the skin, so you may experience:

  • stinging, burning, or pain around the front of the knee
  • skin discoloration
  • the appearance of an open wound
  • minor bleeding and swelling

Minor knee scrapes can typically be treated at home. However, deeper wounds may require medical treatment, such as stitches or a skin graft, as they may expose the interior structure of the knee, including bones and tendons.

It’s essential to clean and care for a skinned knee properly to promote healing and prevent infection.

Read on to learn how to manage scraped knees and when to seek help from a medical professional.

If your injury only affects the skin’s surface, you can usually treat it at home and then monitor it carefully for any signs of infection.

Here are the steps to treat a skinned knee:

Wash your hands

Clean your hands with soap and running water, and then dry them thoroughly. Proper handwashing can help prevent the transmission of germs and potential infections.

Stop the bleeding

Gently cleanse the injured area with cool, running water to remove any surface debris. Place pressure on the wound with a clean gauze bandage or a clean folded cloth to help stop the bleeding.

If possible, try lying down on a flat surface and elevating your knee above the heart to reduce bleeding.

It’s important to seek help from a medical professional if:

  • the wound has dirt, soil, or embedded objects in it that can’t be easily removed
  • the wound is bleeding heavily and doesn’t stop with 10 minutes of firm pressure
  • the bleeding is too heavy to see the extent of the wound

Clean the scrape

When the scrape has stopped bleeding, use warm water and mild soap or sterile wipes to gently clean the area around the wound and rinse thoroughly. Try to avoid getting much soap in the wound.

Pat the area dry with a clean towel or clean gauze bandage, then gently apply a thin layer of topical, antibiotic cream or petroleum jelly to the area.

Wrap the scrape

After cleaning the wound, apply a clean gauze bandage, adhesive bandage (Band-Aid), or other clean covering over the wound. This can help prevent debris from entering the wound and absorb any bleeding.

Leave the wound covered for 24 hours and then remove the bandage to examine it for signs of infection. If there’s no infection present, place a fresh bandage on the skinned knee. Repeat this process daily until the wound is completely healed.

If the wound starts to scab and sticks to the bandage when you try to remove it, soak the area with warm water to help ease the bandage off. Do not pull, as this may cause the scab to come off and delay healing.

It’s important to clean and manage a scraped knee as soon as possible to minimize the risk of infection. Signs and symptoms of infection may include:

  • pus, discharge, or foul odor coming from the wound
  • swelling, tenderness, or pain around the wound
  • fever
  • healing is not taking place

Another, less common complication of a skinned knee is a bacterial infection called tetanus. This may occur if you got a foreign object, such as dirt, soil, or rust, that had the Clostridium tetani (C. tetani) bacteria.

Symptoms typically develop within 3 to 21 days after exposure and may include:

It’s important to get immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of tetanus, as it can be a potentially severe condition. You may need a tetanus shot, especially if you’ve not had one in the past 5 years.

You may wish to speak with a healthcare professional, such as a primary care doctor, if you experience any of the following:

  • the knee does not respond to at-home treatment
  • the knee is swollen, discolored, or very painful
  • the wound has soil, dirt, or bodily fluids in it, or pus is coming out of it
  • the wound is larger than 5 centimeters (2 inches)
  • symptoms of fever, such as fatigue, chills, and high temperature
When to seek emergency medical treatment

If you experience any of the following symptoms, get immediate medical attention:

  • a very deep or large cut (you may see bones, tendons, or muscle tissue)
  • the cut doesn’t stop bleeding
  • blood is spurting out from the cut
  • you have difficulty moving your knee
  • something is stuck in the cut, such as glass or wood

A minor scraped knee may take up to 2 weeks to fully heal. It’s considered fully healed and no longer susceptible to infection once the wound has closed and any scabbing has fallen off.

While minor scrapes are unlikely to cause scars, the area may remain discolored for several weeks afterward.

It’s important to keep the area clean and change the bandage daily to minimize the risk of infection. Infection will require additional treatment and delay healing.

Also, try not to pick at the scab once it starts to form. Scabs are a form of natural bandage that your body produces in response to an injury. They typically fall off naturally when they’re no longer needed to protect the skin underneath.

The yellow fluid or discharge draining from a skinned knee is mucus or pus, which is a sign of infection.

It’s best to keep a skinned knee covered until it is fully healed to help support healing and prevent bacteria from entering the wound. Consider changing the bandage at least once daily.

Your skinned knee may hurt to bend if the knee is swollen or if you have a scab, which can be stiff and prevent the knee from fully bending.

Scraoed or skinned knees are a common form of injury, varying in severity. Minor scrapes can be treated at home, but more serious wounds should be treated by a doctor.

Keeping a skinned knee clean is crucial to reducing the risk of infection and promoting healing.