<p>As one of the most fragile tissues, the skin is highly susceptible to injury, and bacterial infections can significantly limit the progress of tissue repair. Consequently, it is essential to design advanced nanomaterials that can effectively address peri-wound bacterial growth and thus promote wound healing. Herein, red-emitting carbon dots (R-CDs) with excellent optical properties and chemical stability were prepared by a one-pot solvothermal procedure with <i>p</i>-phenylenediamine (PPD) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The antimicrobial experiments demonstrated that the R-CDs did not affect <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>) but could selectively kill <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>). The antimicrobial mechanism of the R-CDs may occur through direct physical contact with bacteria, causing damage to the bacterial membrane, increased permeability, and the release of cellular contents. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause irreversible harm to nucleic acids and proteins, disrupting the metabolism of bacterial cells and ultimately leading to bacterial death. Subsequently, the performance of the R-CDs in wound healing was evaluated through further experiments. The results indicated that wound healing could be effectively promoted by spraying R-CDs on the wound site of <i>S. aureus</i>-infected mice, showing great potential for clinical application.</p>