• Question: Why does a cut only start to hurt when you see it?

    Asked by My Chemical Katie to Christopher, Dan, Mohan on 16 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Daniel Fovargue

      Daniel Fovargue answered on 16 Mar 2017:

      Hmm, I don’t know that I’ve experienced this. Maybe if its not a bad cut, and you’re doing other things, your brain doesn’t decide to pay attention until you see it and focus on it. I’m not sure 🙂

    • Photo: Mohan K

      Mohan K answered on 16 Mar 2017:

      Most of the time when you sustain injury, you will feel pain. Under normal circumstances, if you don’t feel pain until you see it is because you’re distracted by something else. After playing sport for example, I’ve noticed multiple cuts and bruises only later that evening because at the time they occurred i was busy doing something else.

      Some conditions and diseases can damage nerves in the skin, the most obvious example is leprosy but also includes diabetes. Damaged nerves may delay the onset of feeling pain.

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