When Does a Cut Need Stitches?

It’s a safe bet that everyone gets a cut or laceration at some point in life, whether it’s during childhood or as an adult. In most cases, small cuts heal on their own with a little home care, like careful cleaning and bandaging. But other times, a cut needs stitches to promote fast and complete healing, reduce the risk of scarring, and prevent serious infections.

As a leading urgent care clinic providing island-wide care in Hawaii, Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy offers patient-centered treatment for cuts and lacerations, including stitches when needed. Here, our team helps you understand when a cut needs expert care, so you can seek treatment that can prevent complications.

Your cut is very deep

Smaller, shallower cuts that affect the most superficial layers of skin are far more likely to heal on their own without complication or infection. Applying over-the-counter antibiotic medicine and a bandage is usually sufficient for supporting healing and preventing infection. 

Deeper cuts take longer to heal and can dramatically increase your risk of infection or serious tissue damage. These deeper cuts definitely need to be evaluated medically — and they may require stitches, too.

Your cut is wide

Cuts that are broad or long almost certainly need medical evaluation to determine if stitches are warranted. These larger cuts come with an increased risk of infection, so even if you don’t need stitches, you should still seek care to prevent infection and support normal healing.

Your cut won’t stop bleeding

A little bleeding is normal after a cut, and typically, your body’s natural clotting reaction stops the flow of blood fairly quickly. If, however, your cut continues to bleed despite continued applied pressure or soaks through multiple bandages, it probably means the cut needs stitches to close the cut, stop the bleeding, and support tissue healing.

Your cut is close to a  joint

In order for the edges of your cut to “knit” together, the area needs to stay still and stable. When a cut is near a joint, repeated movement can prevent the edges from joining properly, delaying healing and increasing the risk of infection. Stitches help keep the tissue in place to promote complete healing.

Your cut could leave an unwanted scar

If you have a cut in a very visible area, like your face, a doctor may recommend stitches to help close the wound and reduce the risk of scarring. In more severe cases, we may recommend a visit with a cosmetic surgeon to minimize the impact of your scar.

Other reasons to seek care for a cut

Getting stitches is just one reason to seek medical care after a cut. You should also see our team if:

• The cut is very dirty and hard to clean
• The cut was made by a dirty or rusty object
• You haven’t had a tetanus shot within the past 10 years
• The cut is from an animal bite or scratch

You should also schedule an evaluation if your cut shows any signs of infection, or if a closed cut keeps reopening.

Making urgent care convenient

Most medical problems are unpredictable. Our team strives to provide convenient, state-of-the-art urgent care for cuts and other needs, so you can stay healthy and enjoy greater peace of mind. 

To have a problematic cut evaluated promptly, book a same-day appointment online or over the phone with Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy in Kihei, Kahului, and Lahaina, Hawaii, today. You can also take advantage of our walk-in services during normal office hours.