Don't Panic: 10 Solutions for the Most Common Skin Emergencies

How the cut or bruise got there isn’t as important as how you handle its immediate care (save the story for brunch with your friends) because handling cuts on the face isn’t like handling abrasions on the rest of your body. “Definitely avoid over-the-counter antibiotic ointments like Neosporin on a face cut: triple antibiotic ointments are a common cause of allergies on the skin,” Levin warns. “All you need to do is wash the area with a gentle cleanser to make sure it’s clean and free of any debris, then apply a thin layer of a greasy ointment like Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly, $1.67, followed by a physical sunscreen to protect it from the sun.”