Everybody gets them, even the most careful of people, and not a single one likes it. The injury everyone is familiar with and dislikes – papercuts. You’re shuffling through the mail after a long day at work and OUCH – a papercut.
But why does such a little cut by a pretty much harmless piece of paper hurt so much?
Papercuts usually happen on our fingers, and sometimes our lips and tongue. All three of these areas are remarkably sensitive, especially to feelings of pain from an injury. The nerves from these areas send signals to special areas in our brain to make sure the signal is received and clearly understood. The special nerve route and reception of the signal amplify the pain caused by the wound.
Adding to the existing causes of pain is the depth of the cut. A papercut is at the perfect depth to expose our nerve fibers in the skin, exciting them and causing pain signals to be sent to the special area in our brain. The superficial wound also avoids any damage to the nerves, so they are open and fully functional to send information about the pain to our brain.
The hurt usually doesn’t stop there because our fingers, lips, and tongues are rather active structures. The more we move these areas, the more likely it is for our cut to reopen throughout the day and for us to relive the pain.
It seems like there is no way to help a papercut with all the pain that it causes; however, there are a few tips that can help:
- Wash the injury soon after it happens to prevent infection and promote quick healing.
- Continue to keep the cut clean until it fully heals.
- Place a bandage over the area for a few days, if possible.
Papercuts are never enjoyable, but when the next one comes along, you will know why you feel such dramatic pain and how to help the wound heal.
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