How To Stop Bleeding: Home Remedies And Preventing Infection

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Medical News TodaySubscribeHow to stop minor bleeding: Home remedies and preventing infection

Medically reviewed by Jillian Foglesong Stabile MD, FAAFP, DABOM — Written by Tom Seymour — Updated on July 22, 2025

Apply pressure
Raise the affected area
Ice
Tea
Petroleum jelly
Preventing infection
Contacting a doctor
FAQ
Summary

There are various ways to help stop minor bleeding. These include applying pressure and elevating the affected area.

Often, a person can treat these injuries at home, but it is important that a person knows how to do this safely. Whoever is treating the wound should wash their hands and wear latex gloves if possible.

1. Apply pressure

Placing a bandage on legs — Svetlana Repnitskaya/Getty Images

Applying pressure to the wound is the best way to stop it bleeding.

Place a clean and dry piece of material such as a bandage, towel, or cloth on the wound and apply pressure with both hands.

Maintain firm and continuous pressure until the bleeding has stopped.

Checking too soon to see if the bleeding has stopped may interfere with the healing process.

2. Raise the affected area

Reducing the flow of blood will also help stop the bleeding, so raise the affected area if possible.

If the injury is to the hand or arm, simply raise it above the head. If the injury is to a lower limb, lie down and raise the affected area above the level of the heart.

3. Ice

Applying ice to a wound will constrict the blood vessels, allowing a clot to form more quickly and stop the bleeding.

The best way to do this is to wrap ice in a clean, dry cloth and place it on the wound.

»MORE: What is the RICE method for injuries? Learn more.

4. Tea

Tea is a popular remedy to treat bleeding after dental work. Place a steeped black teabag that has been allowed to cool in the fridge on the wound.

Using teabags works because tea contains tannins, which are hemostatic, meaning they cause the blood to clot.

Tannins contain astringents, which cause blood vessels to constrict. They are also an antiseptic that kills bacteria and helps the site stay free of infection.

»MORE: What are the health benefits of black tea? Learn more.

5. Petroleum jelly

Petroleum jelly is a blend of oils and waxes that protects the skin and is found in many cosmetics, including lip balms and Vaseline products.

Fans of boxing and martial arts may have seen fighters’ cuts treated with petroleum jelly.

Petroleum jelly is best used to halt the bleeding from shallow cuts. Wipe the skin dry beforehand and clean the wound to remove any remaining jelly after the bleeding has stopped.

»MORE: What are the benefits of petroleum jelly? Learn more.

Preventing infection

Even if the bleeding has stopped, it is important to keep the wound clean to prevent an infection.

Rinse the wound itself with cool water and use soap to wash the surrounding area. Avoid getting soap in the wound.

If possible, remove any dirt or debris inside the wound with tweezers. It is important to clean the tweezers with rubbing alcohol before using them.

When to contact a doctor

There are several types of bleeding that can be life threatening, including:

blood that is spurting out of the wound
blood that will not stop coming out of the wound
blood that is pooling on the ground
blood-soaked clothing
blood-soaked bandages
loss of all or part of an arm or leg
when the bleeding person becomes confused or unconscious

In these cases, seek medical help immediately by calling 9-1-1 or the country’s emergency services number.

Even if the bleeding has stopped, a person should visit their doctor if:

the wound may need stitches
dirt is not removable easily
there may be internal bleeding or shock
there are signs of an infection
an animal or human bite resulted in the injury
the person has not had a tetanus shot in the last 5 years

Uncontrolled bleeding is the most preventable cause of death from trauma. Knowing how to stop or control bleeding is, therefore, very important.

Using simple home remedies, a person can stop minor bleeding at home. Once the bleeding has stopped, a person should cover minor wounds with a bandage to prevent infection.

Frequently asked questions

What stops bleeding at home?

Ways to stop bleeding at home include:

applying pressure or ice to the area
raising the affected area
applying petroleum jelly

Does Vaseline stop bleeding?

Vaseline, a brand name for petroleum, does not directly stop the bleeding but can help prevent infection and halt bleeding from shallow cuts.

Summary

Although it is unlikely that any bleeding that could be stopped at home would be severe enough to be life threatening, it is still important to know ways in which a person can stop minor bleeding. Ways to stop minor bleeding include applying pressure, placing ice, and raising the affected area.

A person can treat many minor cases of bleeding with at-home remedies, but more severe forms of bleeding, such as controlled bleeding, blood spurting from a wound, or blood-soaked bandages, will need prompt medical treatment.

Dermatology
Blood / Hematology
Emergency Medicine
First Aid

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Ashley KF, et al. (2024). A tea bag tip.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-024-7574-6
Bleeding, life-threating external. (n.d.).https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/resources/learn-first-aid/bleeding-life-threatening-external?srsltid=AfmBOoqc29omug7RuSpZCfEMHIyD0PJM-ok_cBl3XS7dPmy7LuOImvxf
Palm L. (2022). Hemorrhage control-Proper application of direct pressure, pressure dressings, and tourniquets for controlling acute life-threatening hemorrhage.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35044061/
Robaix M, et al. (2023). Independent factors of preventable death in a mature trauma center: a propensity-score analysis.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37749282/
Ryan MJ, et al. (n.d.). Injury: Do I use ice or heat?https://www.boystownhospital.org/knowledge-center/injury-use-ice-heat

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Medically reviewed by Jillian Foglesong Stabile MD, FAAFP, DABOM — Written by Tom Seymour — Updated on July 22, 2025

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