Should i have stitches

It's important to put pressure on the wound with a clean cloth right away. The wound should be checked at an urgent care clinic or ER as soon as possible.

These guidelines can help you decide if a cut needs stitches. But doctors in your local clinic or emergency room are the ones will know for sure. A healing cut can get infected, so doctors clean them carefully.

At home, help prevent infection by taking good care of the cut as it heals. Check the wound every day. Some mild redness around it is normal. And when they do, seconds matter. All our emergency departments have a full-time staff of emergency specialists at the ready 24 hours a day. We use advanced technology to diagnose and treat your condition and coordinate with your doctor to provide the best care possible. Share this on: No matter how careful we are, scrapes and cuts are bound to happen.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Do I Need Stitches? Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. Size as a determining factor.

Amount of blood as a determining factor. Location as a determining factor. Cause as a determining factor. Signs of infection to watch for. Basic first aid for cuts. Seek immediate medical care. The takeaway. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Medically reviewed by Andrew Gonzalez, M. Cuts and Scratches. He advises heading to an ER for evaluation if the wound is:. Do not remove any foreign object — such as a stick or piece of metal — stuck in the wound, says Dr.

If an animal or human has bitten you or a family member or friend and the laceration is more than a very superficial abrasion — or a contaminated or rusty object caused the injury — seek medical attention immediately.

Most children have had tetanus vaccinations, but these types of injuries require medical evaluation anyway. The attending physician may prescribe oral antibiotics as well.

If possible, gently clean the injured area before visiting the emergency department by thoroughly irrigating it. Fertel suggests using tap water and a dilute liquid antibacterial soap to do this.

This is a good way to clean off almost any wound.