Shaving cuts: stopping the bleed and avoiding the next one
Facial cuts bleed out of proportion to their size because the skin there has a rich blood supply.
A shaving nick is shallow but bleeds freely and for longer than seems reasonable. That is normal for the face and scalp.
Stopping it
- Rinse with cool water — cold helps the vessels constrict.
- Press with a clean gauze swab for five minutes without lifting to check.
- If it restarts, press again for another five.
Covering it
Most shaving cuts need no dressing once bleeding stops. If it is somewhere that keeps reopening, a small dressing overnight helps it close.
Preventing the next one
- Replace blades before they drag. A blunt blade catches rather than cuts.
- Soften the hair with warm water first.
- Shave with the grain on the first pass.
- Do not stretch the skin taut with your free hand — that is how you cut below the natural surface line.
See a pharmacist, GP or urgent care if a wound will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, is deep or gaping, was caused by something dirty or rusty, contains anything you cannot flush out, or shows spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever. Get help urgently for animal or human bites, wounds over a joint, and any wound in someone with diabetes or poor circulation.
Shop the range
FitMedix products are CE-marked medical devices intended for the care of minor wounds. This site does not provide medical advice — seek professional help for deep, dirty or non-healing wounds, or if signs of infection appear. Always read the instructions on the pack.