Stories

Ever Wondered Why Paper Cuts Hurt So Much? Here’s The Science Behind These Painful Little Cuts

ADVERTISEMENT

Imagine this situation: You get a big stack of mail from your mailbox, but as you’re sliding your finger to open one of the envelopes, the paper slices your finger.

If that scenario made you cringe, you’re not alone. Getting a paper cut is one of the most surprising and painful experiences. No matter how small the cut is, it seems to hurt way more than other small injuries.

ADVERTISEMENT
Wikimedia / Laurence Facun

Almost everyone has gotten paper cuts before — and they’re the absolute worst. And all you can really do is put an adhesive bandage on it and hope it stops hurting soon.

ADVERTISEMENT
Max Pixel

So why exactly are paper cuts so painful? Well, there’s some pretty interesting science behind it.

First of all, the reason paper is able to cut us is because it’s so thin. In fact, paper is much thinner than knife blades!

Max Pixel

Unfortunately, the edges of paper are not very smooth. This means that when you look at paper up close, the edge looks more like a saw than a smooth blade. When paper cuts you, it’s much more ragged than if a knife cuts you.

pxhere

Another reason paper cuts hurt so much? Because they typically occur on your fingers. You may not know this, but your fingers have a higher concentration of pain receptors than other parts of your body. If you were to get a paper cut on your leg, it probably wouldn’t hurt nearly as much.

pxhere

Most paper is also bleached, which can irritate the cut. Although most paper cuts resolve themselves, if you don’t keep them clean and properly treated, they can become infected.

pxhere

Check out the video below for more information. How often do you get paper cuts? If you hate these painful little injuries, don’t forget to share this article with your friends.

Show comments
Share
Published by

Recent Posts

People Left Dumbfounded After Seeing What 39-Year-Old Man Looked Like In 1964

Richard Vernon made a brief cameo in 1964’s Goldfinger as Colonel Smithers alongside a 34-year-old…

26 mins ago

Dana Carvey Apologizes For “Offensive” ‘SNL’ Skit That Had Sharon Stone Strip Down

Saturday Night Live started in 1975 but it remains as relevant as ever - even…

12 hours ago

King Charles Appears Gaunt In Virtual Appearance For Maundy Thursday After Cancer Diagnosis

King Charles is going ahead with some of his usual appointments and duties. Recently, he…

16 hours ago

Billie Lourd Shows Off Son Watching Great Grandmother Debbie Reynolds In ‘Singin’ In The Rain’

Billie Lourd recently shared a snap of her three-year-old son, Kingston, to Instagram, watching his…

17 hours ago

‘Growing Pains’ Cast Then And Now 2024

UPDATE 3/28/2024 The pains of growing… made better thanks to the seven-season run of Growing…

17 hours ago

Fans Concerned About Tim McGraw, Faith Hill’s Daughter As She Looks ‘Too Thin’

Country music icons Tim McGraw and Faith Hill welcomed their third daughter, Audrey Caroline, in…

18 hours ago