I cut my ankle shaving. Why does it bleed so much?

Question

This morning, I shaved my legs and I knicked the back of my ankle. This has happened to me before, but I'm just wondering, why does the ankle bleed to profusely? The cut was very, very small and it didn't even hurt, but it wouldn't stop bleeding. Why is this?

Answer 1

Right, with the bone right there the blood vessels are all real near the surface of the skin - it doesn't take much to cut there, the knee or the shins. My mother always told me to drag the razor from top to bottom over these area and relax it completely for best results.

If you sit with your foot up (high as you can - above heart level is best) it will stop bleeding fastest. Wrap bandage around or hold it on with the other leg if you can't reach it.

Peace!

Ah, yes - the answer above me is right. She is talking about a stiptic pencil - they are supposed to work well, though it's never been trouble for me enough to try it. You should be able to get them at any drug store.

Answer 2

Keep the pressure on for at least ten minutes without let-up, and elevate the leg above the level of your heart. Then the blood will stop, but it does take ten minutes. Use clean thumb or fingers rather than paper, as the paper will strip away the setting blood when you remove it. If that isn't enough, then tape a dressing over the wound, and do not remove the dressing. Make sure NEVER to tape all the way around the ankle, as that will affect the circulation. If you have some kind of medical condition, or are on certain drugs, eg warfarin, this advice may not be enough, in which case go to hospital. Good luck :-)

Answer 3

Wow, I'm surprised that so far people have given good medical advice--good job!

Yes, you _might_ have knicked a small vein, and the skin on your ankles is very thin and easy to cut.

Your ankles and feet are also the lowest part of your body; water runs down stream, and so does your blood.

If you get cut again there,I would suggest applying gentle pressure with a tissue on the bleeding area for about 5 minutes, continuously. (Don't lift the tissue up to check, give it the full 5 minutes. Watch tv if you're bored.) :)

Put a band aid on it, and have someone give it a kiss. :) (You can skip that last part, but it helps.) :)

Be careful around those ankles, they are tricky to shave, and easy to cut (along with your knees and "lady areas".)

Good luck! :)

Answer 4

Cut Ankle

Answer 5

Very thin skin on the ankle. They make these white sticks that you can get @ Wal-mart that you get wet with water to help stop the bleeding and heal the cut. Look for it in the shaving/razor section.

Answer 6

The nearer the cut to the surface, the more it bleeds, because the most blood is close to the skin. You probably nicked yourself just deep enough to let a lot of blood through no matter how small the cut.

Good luck on that shaving!

Answer 7

that area has a lot of blood vessels. i cut my shin while shaving once (actually when i was curious as a child and wasn't supposed to be shaving yet......) and it bled quite a bit. so you just have to be careful and apply less pressure with the razor on the less meatier parts that you're shaving :)

Answer 8

the blood vessels over the ankles are so close to the surface much like a cut to the forehead bleed alot.

Answer 9

Gravity. Blood flows downward. Put your foot up, and apply pressure to the cut. It's the same concept as if you hung upside down and the blood rushed to your face. I used to cut myself there alot. Now I use the Venus razor. I have not cut myself once since I started using it.

Answer 10

if you were in the shower the warm water will make it bleed more also around the ankle area u bleed more