Medically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician, Takecare Clinic Phuket. Last reviewed: September 2026.
Coral cuts, scooter grazes and cuts from broken glass on the beach all heal more slowly in Phuket’s heat and humidity, and I often see wounds that looked minor on day one but are infected by day three. Good cleaning and the right dressing early on prevent most of those problems.
Wounds in Phuket have a character of their own. Coral and rock cuts from reef walks and snorkelling, road rash and exhaust burns from scooters, and cuts from broken glass on a night out make up much of what we clean and dress. Warm, humid air, sweat, sand and seawater all make infection more likely than in a cooler climate, and most people understandably want to keep swimming, which slows healing.
How a wound heals, and what slows it down
Healing runs in overlapping stages. Within minutes a clot seals the damaged vessels, a stage called haemostasis. For the next few days the area is mildly red, warm and swollen while the body clears debris; that is normal inflammation, not infection. From around day four, new pink, slightly bumpy granulation tissue fills the gap and the edges draw together, and over the following months the scar strengthens and fades, a stage called remodelling. Dirt left in the wound, repeated soaking in the sea or a pool, friction from sandal straps, smoking, diabetes and poor circulation all slow the process.
What happens when you come in with a wound
The doctor asks how and when it happened, then checks around the wound: whether fingers or toes move normally, whether feeling is intact and whether the circulation is good, because a deep cut can damage a tendon or nerve. After numbing the area with local anaesthetic if needed, we irrigate the wound thoroughly with sterile saline and remove sand, grit or coral fragments. Clean cuts seen within the first several hours can usually be closed straight away with stitches, skin glue or adhesive strips. Heavily contaminated wounds, bites and punctures are often left open to drain, because closing them can trap bacteria inside.
Most clean wounds do not need antibiotics. We prescribe them for bites, heavily soiled wounds, people with diabetes and any wound already showing infection, commonly a penicillin-type antibiotic such as flucloxacillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate.
Tetanus protection
If your last tetanus vaccine was more than 10 years ago, or more than 5 years ago for a dirty or deep wound, a booster is usually advised on the day, and we can give it alongside any other vaccinations in Phuket you need. If you never completed a primary course, the doctor will also discuss an antibody injection called tetanus immunoglobulin.
| Type of wound | What we usually do | Typical follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Clean cut from glass or a knife | Irrigation, then stitches, skin glue or adhesive strips | Check at 2-3 days; stitches out at 5-14 days depending on the site |
| Coral or rock cut | Scrubbing, removal of fragments, often left open or loosely closed | Review in 1-2 days, as these infect easily |
| Road rash (graze) | Cleaning of embedded grit under local anaesthetic, non-stick dressing | Dressing changes every 1-3 days |
| Exhaust pipe burn | Cooling, blister care, burn dressing | Review at about 2 days; deep burns referred |
| Bite or deep puncture | Thorough washing, usually left open, antibiotics, tetanus and rabies assessment | Review within 48 hours |
| Infected wound | Swab if there is pus, antibiotics, fresh dressing | Recheck in 48 hours |
Coral cuts, road rash and exhaust burns
Coral and rock cuts
Coral is sharp, and it pushes tiny fragments and reef bacteria into the skin, which is why coral cuts often turn red and sore several days later. Scrub them with soap under running fresh water as soon as you are out of the sea, and have any cut that is deep, still gritty or on the sole of the foot cleaned properly. Warm seawater can also carry Vibrio bacteria, which rarely cause serious infection, mainly in people with liver disease or weakened immunity.
Road rash
Grazes from sliding on tarmac often hide embedded grit, which can leave a permanent dark mark, called traumatic tattooing, if it is not removed early. We clean these under local anaesthetic and cover them with non-stick dressings. Our page on motorbike accident care covers the other injuries to check for after a fall.
Exhaust burns
A scooter’s hot exhaust pipe leaves a round burn on the inner calf, usually on the right leg. Cool it under cool running water for 20 minutes as soon as you can, avoid ice, butter or toothpaste, and leave blisters intact. Burns larger than your palm, white or leathery burns and burns that have stopped hurting may be deep and need assessment.
Looking after the wound between visits
Keep the dressing clean and dry and change it as advised, usually every one to three days, or sooner if it gets wet. A slightly moist wound under a dressing heals faster than one left to dry into a hard scab. Stay out of the sea, pools and hot tubs until the wound has sealed, which takes several days for a small cut and longer for a large graze; a waterproof dressing helps in the shower but is not a licence to swim. If you had stitches, our guide to stitches removal gives timings by body area, and if getting to a clinic is hard, dressing changes can be done during a doctor hotel visit in Phuket.
When to see a doctor
Come in the same day for any cut that gapes open, is longer than about 2 centimetres, keeps bleeding after 10 minutes of firm pressure, contains dirt or coral you cannot clean out, or sits on the face, hand, foot or over a joint. Spreading redness, pus, red streaks up the limb or a fever after day two point to infection and need skin infection treatment. Any bite or scratch from a dog, cat or monkey also needs same-day rabies assessment, described under animal bite treatment. Call 1669 or go to a hospital emergency department for bleeding that will not stop with pressure, spurting blood, a deep wound to the chest, abdomen or neck, numbness or loss of movement beyond the wound, or a large or deep burn.
Prevention and early detection
Wear reef shoes on rocky beaches and when snorkelling from shore, and never stand on coral. On a scooter, wear closed shoes and long trousers where you can, and get on and off from the left side, away from the exhaust. People with diabetes should inspect their feet every evening, because a small cut from sand or a sandal strap can go unnoticed and develop into a diabetic foot wound. For early detection, remember the simple rule: a wound that is getting redder rather than paler after day two needs to be seen.
Where to have a wound cleaned and dressed
Our treatment rooms are open 24 hours a day at the Bangtao (Cherngtalay) clinic, the Kata-Karon clinic and the Patong clinic. Seeing a walk-in doctor in Phuket is the fastest route for a fresh cut, or send us a photo on WhatsApp if you are unsure whether it needs attention. You can also call +66 81 718 9080 to arrange a visit to your hotel or villa. Bring your travel insurance details and, if you know it, the date of your last tetanus vaccine. We handle direct billing with most travel insurers, and every visit comes with an itemised invoice and, on request, a medical report describing the injury.
Related services and treatments
The same treatment room handles minor surgery in Phuket, such as removing a sea urchin spine or draining an abscess, and quick procedures like ear wax removal for ears blocked after swimming. To see everything else we offer, browse all our medical services.
Summary
Most wounds on a Phuket holiday heal well when they are cleaned thoroughly, closed at the right time or left open when that is safer, and kept dry and out of the sea until sealed. Coral cuts, road rash and bites carry a higher infection risk and deserve a professional clean on the day. The practical takeaway: rinse early, check your tetanus date, and come back without delay if redness spreads.
“Keep a wound clean and dry, change the dressing daily, and come back if it becomes hot, red, swollen or starts to smell. Those are early signs of infection.”
Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician, Takecare Clinic Phuket
Frequently asked questions
How soon after a cut do I need to be seen for stitches?
As soon as you reasonably can, ideally within about 6 to 8 hours. Clean wounds can often still be closed later than that, particularly on the face and scalp, which have a good blood supply. After a long delay, the doctor may prefer to let the wound heal from the base or close it after a few days, to avoid sealing in bacteria.
Can I swim in the sea while the wound is healing?
Not until it has sealed. Seawater is not sterile, and warm tropical water carries bacteria that can infect an open wound. Salt and sand also irritate healing tissue. Once the surface has closed and any stitches are out, a gentle swim is usually fine. Ask us to check the wound if you are unsure.
How often will I need dressing changes?
It depends on the wound. A clean stitched cut may need only one check before the stitches come out, while grazes, burns and infected wounds often need fresh dressings every one to three days. The doctor gives you a plan at the first visit, and you can return to any of our three clinics.
Do I need an appointment for wound care?
No. Walk in at any hour to any of our clinics, and a doctor usually sees you within minutes. For a wound that is bleeding heavily or very deep, go to a hospital emergency department instead, or call 1669 if you cannot get there safely.
Can a doctor dress my wound at my hotel?
Yes. Our doctors visit hotels, villas and condos across Phuket 24/7, bringing sterile dressings and supplies. This works well for follow-up dressing changes, or when a leg or foot wound makes walking painful. Deep wounds that need stitches are usually easier to close properly in a clinic treatment room.
Will my travel insurance pay for wound care?
Accidental injuries are usually covered, but check your policy, especially if the wound came from a motorbike accident, as many policies exclude riders without a valid licence or helmet. We offer direct billing with most travel insurers, confirm the price on WhatsApp before your visit and provide itemised receipts.
Sources
The NHS explains first aid and warning signs for cuts and grazes and for burns and scalds. Its page on tetanus covers which wounds carry a risk and when a booster is needed.
wound care, laceration, cut, graze, abrasion, road rash, coral cut, exhaust burn, wound irrigation, sterile saline, sutures, skin glue, adhesive strips, granulation tissue, wound infection, cellulitis, Vibrio, flucloxacillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, tetanus booster, tetanus immunoglobulin, diabetic foot wound, 1669, Bangtao, Kata, Karon, Patong, Takecare Clinic Phuket, Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan
This page is general health information and not a substitute for a medical consultation.