A cut probably needs stitches if its edges gape open and don’t come together with gentle pressure, if it is deep enough to see yellow fat or muscle, if it keeps bleeding after 10 minutes or more of firm pressure, or if it is on the face or over a joint. The sooner it is checked, the better: closing a cut early lowers the risk of infection. Small, shallow cuts with edges that stay together can usually be treated at home.
Call 911 or go to the ER now if blood is spurting or pumping from the wound, if bleeding won’t stop with firm pressure, or if the person can’t feel or move the area beyond the cut. For heavy bleeding, press hard on the wound while you wait for help.
In the video above, family physician Dr. Richard Honaker goes through the signs that a child’s cut needs stitches: bleeding that won’t stop with steady pressure, bright red blood that pumps, a dirty wound, yellowish fat showing in the cut, a cut on the face, and a cut over a joint, which can pull open as you move. He also stresses timing and common sense. The video page is written for parents. This article covers both adults and children and adds first aid and what happens next.
How to know if a cut needs stitches
The sources below agree on the main warning signs. Get a cut checked by a doctor, urgent care or the ER if:
- The edges gape. Cleveland Clinic says a cut that needs more than gentle pressure to bring its edges together will likely need stitches or another closure, such as staples.
- It’s deep. If you can see yellow fat or dark red muscle, the cut should probably be closed, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). MedlinePlus says stitches may be needed if a wound is more than a quarter inch (0.64 cm) deep or reaches the bone.
- It’s long. The AAP says open cuts longer than half an inch probably need stitches. The Merck Manual suggests medical help for cuts longer than about a third of an inch (3/4 cm). The NHS advises urgent advice for cuts larger than about 2 inches (5 cm).
- It’s on the face. Facial cuts should be checked because of scarring. The NHS also lists cuts on the palm of the hand as needing A&E (the ER).
- It’s over a joint. Cleveland Clinic says these usually need stitches and may need a check for nerve, tendon or ligament damage.
- It won’t stop bleeding. Cleveland Clinic advises urgent care or the ER if bleeding doesn’t stop or slow a lot after 10 to 15 minutes of direct pressure.
- It’s dirty or caused by a bite. Bites from people or animals, cuts from rusty objects, stepping on a nail, and wounds with dirt that won’t rinse out all need a doctor.
- Something is stuck in it, such as glass. Leave it in place and get care.
- There’s numbness or weakness past the cut, which can mean a nerve or tendon injury.
How long after a cut can you get stitches?
Sooner is better. The sources give slightly different windows:
- In the video, Dr. Honaker says stitches should usually be done within 6 to 12 hours of the injury, because closing a wound later can trap bacteria inside.
- The AAP says most cuts can be safely closed for up to 24 hours after the injury, unless the wound is dirty or high-risk, such as an animal bite, and advises contacting a doctor as soon as possible.
- Cleveland Clinic also says stitches are best within about 24 hours.
Don’t wait to see if it gets better. If you think a cut might need stitches, get it checked the same day. If more time has passed, still get it checked: the NHS notes that a doctor may clean a wound with a high risk of infection and leave it open at first.
Stitches vs glue vs butterfly strips
Doctors choose the closure based on the cut’s size, depth and location. The AAP describes the options this way:
| Closure | Best for | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Stitches (sutures) | Deeper or more complex cuts | The strongest option. Dissolving stitches don’t need removal; others are usually taken out after 5 to 12 days, depending on where they are. |
| Skin glue | Small, straight cuts | Quick and painless. Not used over joints, on skin that moves a lot, or near the eyes. |
| Butterfly or adhesive strips (Steri-Strips) | Small, shallow cuts not under tension or over a joint | Can work as well as stitches if they stay on for at least 3 days, but they can peel off early. |
| Staples | Mostly scalp cuts | Fast, but usually avoided on the face and need a visit to remove. |
The Merck Manual notes that antibiotic ointment shouldn’t be used with skin glue or special wound tape. A cut with a high risk of infection may be cleaned and left open at first, according to the NHS.
What happens if you don’t get stitches?
Cleveland Clinic says skipping stitches when a cut needs them can raise the risk of infection, cause a worse scar, slow healing and add pain. A gaping cut over a joint can keep pulling open as you move, as Dr. Honaker explains in the video. Small cuts that don’t need stitches usually heal within a few days, according to the NHS.
How to stop bleeding from a cut
- Wash your hands and wear gloves if you have them.
- Press firmly on the cut with a clean gauze pad or folded cloth. The AAP says to press for 5 to 10 minutes and not to lift it to check, since peeking is the most common reason bleeding keeps going.
- Raise the area above the level of the heart if you can.
- If blood soaks through, add another layer on top. Don’t remove the first one.
- If something is stuck in the cut, don’t pull it out or press on it. The NHS says to press firmly on either side of it instead.
Call 911 for heavy bleeding that won’t stop, or blood that spurts. Keep pressing hard with both hands while you wait. The AAP notes that a young child can lose a dangerous amount of blood quickly.
First aid for a cut that doesn’t need stitches
- Once bleeding stops, rinse the cut with clean tap water and gently wash around it with mild soap and water.
- Cleveland Clinic and the Merck Manual advise against hydrogen peroxide, and Merck also advises against alcohol and iodine, because they can damage tissue.
- Put on a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and a clean bandage that won’t stick, as MedlinePlus suggests.
- Keep it clean and dry, and change the dressing as needed.
If you’re heading in for stitches: Cleveland Clinic suggests not eating or drinking beforehand in case sedation is needed, not removing embedded objects, and having someone else drive you. The NHS also says not to drive yourself.
Do you need a tetanus shot after a cut?
Maybe. Check when you, or your child, last had a tetanus shot.
- MedlinePlus says to contact a provider if you haven’t had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years.
- The Merck Manual uses a shorter time, recommending medical help if you haven’t had one in the past 5 years.
- Cleveland Clinic says dirty or contaminated wounds, such as cuts from rusty objects, may call for a tetanus shot, and children who haven’t been vaccinated should be.
If you aren’t sure when your last shot was, ask the doctor who checks the cut.
Watch for signs of infection
Call a doctor if, a day or more after the injury, you notice:
- redness, warmth or swelling that gets worse
- pain that increases or throbs
- pus or drainage
- a red streak spreading from the wound
- a fever
The Merck Manual says to get medical care within several hours if these appear.
When to see a doctor or go to the ER
Call 911 or go to the ER if:
- blood spurts or pumps, or bleeding won’t stop with firm pressure (MedlinePlus gives 10 minutes of pressure as a guide)
- you can’t feel or move the area beyond the cut
- the cut is very large or deep, or something is stuck in it
- the person has other serious injuries
See a doctor or urgent care the same day if:
- the edges gape, you can see fat, or the cut is on the face, a joint, the palm or the genitals
- it’s a human or animal bite, a puncture, or a dirty wound
- you’re not up to date on tetanus shots
As Dr. Honaker says in the video, use common sense: if a wound looks bad to you, have it checked.
Frequently asked questions
When should you get stitches?
When a cut gapes open, is deep, keeps bleeding after firm pressure, or is on the face or a joint. Get it checked as soon as possible, ideally within hours.
How long after a cut can you get stitches?
Dr. Honaker says in the video that stitches are usually done within 6 to 12 hours. The AAP and Cleveland Clinic say most cuts can be closed up to about 24 hours after the injury, except dirty or high-risk wounds. Either way, sooner is better.
Do I need stitches if the bleeding stopped?
Possibly. A cut can stop bleeding and still need closure if it gapes, is deep, or is on the face or a joint.
Should I use a butterfly bandage instead of stitches?
Only for small, shallow cuts that aren’t over a joint or under tension, according to the AAP. Deeper or gaping cuts need a doctor.
Do I need a tetanus shot for a small cut?
If you haven’t had one in 10 years, MedlinePlus says to contact a provider; the Merck Manual uses 5 years. Dirty wounds make a shot more likely. Ask your doctor.
Find a doctor
Dr. Richard Honaker, family medicine, Dallas-Fort Worth
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: Here’s How To Tell if Your Cut Needs Stitches
- HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics): Treating Cuts and Scrapes in Kids: First Aid and Scar Prevention Tips
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH): Cuts and puncture wounds
- Merck Manual Consumer Version: First Aid for Cuts, Scrapes, and Wounds
- NHS: Cuts and grazes
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk with a qualified health professional about your own situation. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
