Skin tears are common in an acute setting. They have a negative impact on patient quality of life and increased healthcare costs. In the first of two articles, the authors describe the ideal first-line approach to managing skin tears. Its application in practice is illustrated using the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching NHS Foundation Trust skin tear pathway, which has been audited and enhanced to incorporate the latest ISTAP definition of skin tears as traumatic wounds and the recommendation to use light compression as a component of treatment in skin tears of the lower limb.