What should you know about tetanus on skin?

Tetanus does not normally appear as a distinctive patch, coating, or rash on the skin. The entry point may be small, healed, or no longer easy to notice. The infection affects nerves and muscles, so warning symptoms are more likely to involve stiffness or spasms than a visible skin change. A wound can still need assessment even when it looks minor, especially if it was deep, contaminated, or caused by a puncture.

Rinse a fresh wound with clean running water, gently clear away visible dirt, and cover it with a clean dressing. Avoid picking at the area or sealing an obviously dirty wound without cleaning it. Contact a clinician promptly for a deep wound, animal bite, burn, crush injury, or puncture, and discuss your vaccine history. Preventive options are explained in [Tetanus Vaccination](/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/tetanus-vaccination/).

Get urgent help for jaw tightness, trouble opening the mouth, difficulty swallowing, painful muscle spasms, or breathing problems. Arrange prompt review if the wound becomes increasingly red, hot, swollen, painful, or produces pus, or if you develop fever or feel markedly unwell.

Ask whether the wound needs additional cleaning, whether your tetanus vaccination history changes the plan, and which skin changes or new symptoms require reassessment.