It has probably happened to you at some point in your life. A small paper cut is quite painful. So, what is the reason for this situation?
PAPER CUT PAIN
Some assumptions of scientists regarding the pain of paper cuts are listed on the website of TÜBİTAK:
“Nerve cells: There are billions of interconnected nerve cells (neurons) in our body. The specialized sensors of these nerve cells that are sensitive to high temperature, chemicals, and pressure are called nociceptors. Our fingertips have more nociceptors than almost any other part of our body. Nociceptors are when we hold something hot. or when we touch something sharp, it sends a warning to the brain. This is why we quickly pull our hand away from the place we touched in such situations.”
You can also find details in the article titled “Why does it hurt so much when your little toe hits it?”
In the article, it is also stated that the paper cut is not deep, causing the body’s defense mechanisms such as bleeding and crusting to not be activated. Some experts state that one aspect of the pain of paper cuts may be psychological because our hands are in front of our eyes.
WHY DOES A PAPER CUT HIT SO MUCH?
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center website has the following information about the paper cut:
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Our face, hands, and fingertips are full of tiny nerves and nerve endings. Each of these nerve fibers is like an electrical cord or telephone wire, designed to carry different types of information between our brain and the rest of our body.
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A piece of paper cutting your finger, lips, or tongue cuts off far more nerve endings and activates more pain receptors than in your back.
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Those with neuropathy (nerve damage), such as hand and foot damage caused by diabetes, may experience more pain with a paper cut. An immune disease like fibromyalgia, which changes the way the brain perceives pain signals, can also make people more susceptible to cuts.
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The pain from paper cuts is protective – it makes you realize you have a cut and helps prevent infection or further damage.
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Remember that dry skin is easier to cut with a paper edge. To protect your skin in general, it’s best to stay hydrated and wear gloves when it’s cold.
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When you get a superficial paper cut, clean the area, apply some antibiotic ointment and a bandage to help keep the skin together and infection-free. Deeper cuts, of course, may require medical attention.
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Most people will find that the paper cut heals within two or three days. But if your cut doesn’t improve within this time – especially if you have diabetes or are otherwise immune – talk to your doctor to make sure the cut isn’t triggering another problem, such as an infection.
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Our fingers and hands are engineering marvels that perform many tasks every day. We can do all this thanks to the many nerve endings and nerve organelles found in our fingertips. The next time you cut paper, consider that the reason why it’s so painful is because you can do so much with your hands.
CUT PAPER LIKE A SAW
There’s another reason why a paper cut hurts so much. According to the BBC’s analysis, to the naked eye, the edge of a sheet of paper can appear quite flat and smooth. But if you zoom in, you’ll see that the paper looks more like a saw than a knife. Therefore, it leaves a chaotic cut like a paper saw. Also, cut
They can leave some chemicals and bacteria that irritate the skin.
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