What are cuts, blisters and wounds?

MinuteClinic providers can discuss your symptoms and health history. They can also examine and assess an injury, gently clean it and develop a treatment plan. As part of your treatment plan, a provider may recommend prophylactic (preventative) antibiotics, or a tetanus shot. In some locations, providers may also order a wound culture to see if your wound is infected, or they may use a skin-closure device to close your cut or wound.

If you have a skin abscess, a MinuteClinic provider may ask you a few questions to better understand:

• How long the abscess has been present
• If you’ve had an injury to the infected area
• If you’re taking any medications
• If you have any allergies

At certain MinuteClinic locations, a provider may conduct incision and drainage to open and drain your abscess. During the procedure, a provider will make a cut on the top of the abscess. They will then squeeze out any pus, blood and mucus. Your provider may then irrigate (wash out) the inside of the abscess with a sterile solution and pack it with gauze before covering it with a bandage (dressing).

1. You may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:

   If you made your appointment online:
   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

   If you made your appointment in the clinic:
   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

   If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care^® appointment:
   To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and ZIP code to join the visit.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

Getting professional care from a MinuteClinic^® health care provider can ensure that your wound is properly cleaned and help prevent infection. Sometimes cleaning and dressing (putting on bandages and gauze) at home may not be enough to prevent infection. The same can be said about blister treatment, which often doesn’t get the attention it needs.

A skin abscess forms when bacteria get into the skin. Bacteria can enter through a small tear, wound or hair follicle. When this happens, the body defends itself against the bacteria by triggering an inflammatory response (swelling, redness and other effects caused by your immune system) in the surrounding tissue. Abscesses can sometimes form around foreign objects like splinters.

Incision and drainage (I&D) is a medical procedure used to treat skin abscesses. This procedure involves numbing the area around the abscess with a local anesthetic. Once the area is numb, a health care provider will make a small cut in the abscess so fluid inside can drain out. Your provider may make the cut with a small, sharp knife called a scalpel. Once the fluid has drained, the provider will clean the wound and pack it with gauze if needed. If clinically required, the provider will also prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

Only select MinuteClinic locations offer incision and drainage. When choosing a clinic for your treatment, each location will indicate if the incision and drainage service is available.

A wound culture is a test that a health care provider may use to find out if a cut or other wound is infected with bacteria. This involves using a cotton swab to collect a small sample of cells from the wound and sending the sample to a laboratory. The sample is then incubated (allowed to grow) for 2 to 3 days. If there are bacteria in the sample, they will grow, and it will then be possible to identify the specific bacteria. After identifying the bacteria, a provider can then determine the best treatment for your infection.

A skin closure device can be a non-invasive adhesive (material to stick things together, like glue) or other material that is used to close wounds. “Non-invasive” means that a provider will not need to insert anything into your skin or body to close the wound. A MinuteClinic provider may apply and secure this type of skin closure device over your wound as part of your treatment. Using this device helps the edges of your wound close and heal with minimal scarring while also keeping your wound protected.

There are many benefits to using a skin closure device. Using one can:

• Lower your risk of infection
• Reduce scarring
• Minimize the risk of re-injury
• Help your wound heal more quickly

The length of time it takes for a cut, blister or wound to heal depends on many factors, including the depth and severity of the injury, your age and overall health. In general, most minor cuts, blisters and wounds will heal within 7 to 10 days.

We know how difficult it can be for children and parents when a young child needs to receive treatment for an injury. Dealing with a wound, even a minor one, can be upsetting to a child, especially if the treatment might hurt or sting a little. But getting professional care from a MinuteClinic health care provider can make the entire experience more tolerable for both children and parents alike.

Our caring and highly skilled providers will ensure that your child gets proper wound care with the least amount of discomfort possible. MinuteClinic providers can also offer you tips to help your child avoid blisters and other preventable injuries in the future.