why do paper cuts hurt so much?
In: Biology
Paper cuts are small and shallow so more air gets into them, making it feel worse. Because they don’t bleed much, you likely won’t get a scab to help stop the air from entering the cut.
They cut thin and shallow enough to hit the pain sensing nerves but not deep enough or big enough to get to blood. So it stays open and exposed until the skin grows out.
Paper is also very rough, at the molecular level. Paper cuts look like a smooth line but are actually jagged, with the skin tearing apart rather than being sliced.
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