Do I Need Stitches? How to Tell If You Need Medical Care
Only cuts and puncture wounds that are deep enough need to be stitched by a doctor. You might need to see a doctor even if you don’t need stitches, though, especially if you have diabetes. Other situations in which you should see a doctor regardless of whether you need stitches include being bitten, dirty wounds, and wounds that won’t close or stop bleeding. Talk to your doctor about whether a tetanus shot is needed as well.
Do I Need Stitches for This Wound?
Rod Brouhard is an emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P), journalist, educator, and advocate for emergency medical service providers and patients.
Updated on May 05, 2022
Michael Menna, DO, is a board-certified, active attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York.
Angela Underwood’s extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder.
If you’ve had an injury, you may wonder whether it’s going to require stitches. This will depend on the type of wound, cause, other conditions you may have, and whether stitches are the treatment of choice. Make sure to take care of the wound until you can get professional help.
The problem isn’t a shortage of people wanting to be doctors, but rather, too few opportunities for training. Medical schools have increased class sizes by 30% since 2002, but federal funding for residency training – an essential step in the process of becoming a practicing physician – has not increased since 1997, according to Inside Higher Ed.
This article discusses the types of injuries that might require stitches, explaining when wounds can and cannot be helped by stitches. It also lists reasons to contact your doctor whether or not you have a wound sewn up.
Uses of Sutures
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Stitches are used for two reasons:
- To close a wound to promote healing and discourage infection
- To reduce scarring
Let’s look at the second reason first. If the wound is in an area where scarring would be obvious and the wound is deep enough to see the fatty tissue under the skin surface (the subcutaneous tissue), then getting stitches may allow you to have a less obvious scar. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about scarring.
The first reason is more complicated and requires a bit more understanding of the types of wounds, how they are treated, and possible infections.
Types of Wounds
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Verywell / Todd Ferguson
Wounds that cause a break in the skin are called open wounds. These are the types of wounds that may require stitches. Closed wounds do not have a break in the skin and are identified by swelling and bruises.
There are several types of open wounds:
- Lacerations : This is what we are thinking of when we say “cuts.” Lacerations are simple breaks in the skin.
- Incisions : Incisions are surgical wounds, which are usually made by a scalpel. These are similar to lacerations but have very smooth edges.
- Punctures: It’s hard to tell a puncture from a laceration if the item that made the wound is big enough. Lacerations tear through the skin, while punctures go in and come back out. If the item that made the puncture is still embedded, it’s called an impaled object.
- Avulsions: These are torn sections of skin, either a flap that’s open on three sides or torn away completely.
- Abrasions: These are scratches. The difference between an abrasion and an avulsion is the depth. Abrasions leave the skin mostly intact while avulsions remove the skin entirely.
When to See the Doctor
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These are the wounds that should always be seen by a doctor:
- Any open wound in a person with diabetes
- Animal or human bites (for open wounds)
- Dirt that won’t come out of the wound
- A wound in which you can’t close the edges
- Uncontrolled bleeding—call 911
Can It Be Stitched?
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Verywell / Todd Ferguson
Lacerations, punctures, and incisions are all suturable wounds (they can be stitched). Avulsions that still have a flap of skin attached may also be suturable. Complete avulsions and abrasions cannot be stitched, but you still may need a doctor to treat the wound if it’s serious enough.
To determine if stitches are needed, look at three things:
- Depth: Is the wound deep enough to see the subcutaneous tissue (which is yellowish and fatty)? If so, the wound is deep enough to get stitches, but it still may not need them.
- Width: Can the wound be pulled closed easily? If the wound is gaping and cannot be easily pinched closed, then it will need stitches to hold it closed long enough to heal correctly.
- Location: Wounds on areas of the body that stretch and move a lot will need stitches more often than those on areas that do not move as much. For example, a wound on the forearm will not move as much as a wound on the calf.
Tetanus Immunization Status
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The final—but not least—concern is how long it’s been since your last tetanus vaccination. A booster tetanus shot is recommended every 10 years unless you get a dirty wound.
Ultimately, if you’re concerned about the wound and unsure whether it needs professional attention, then see a doctor.
Summary
Getting stitches means having a wound sewn closed with special medical thread. This procedure can help an open wound heal and may minimize scarring
Only cuts and puncture wounds that are deep enough need to be stitched by a doctor. You might need to see a doctor even if you don’t need stitches, though, especially if you have diabetes. Other situations in which you should see a doctor regardless of whether you need stitches include being bitten, dirty wounds, and wounds that won’t close or stop bleeding. Talk to your doctor about whether a tetanus shot is needed as well.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. Proper Wound Care: How to Minimize a Scar.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tetanus vaccination.
By Rod Brouhard, EMT-P
Rod Brouhard is an emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P), journalist, educator, and advocate for emergency medical service providers and patients.
Do I Need Stitches? How to Tell If You Need Medical Care
Everyone gets scraped and cut at some point. Most of the time, these wounds are minor and heal without any treatment at all. However, some cuts and injuries require stitches to heal properly.
Whether a cut needs stitches depends on factors such as where the cut is and how deep it is. Some minor wounds bleed more than others, which can make it difficult to know when to get stitches or just treat the cut at home.
Stitches, also called sutures, are special types of threads that are used to close a wound. They stop bleeding and reduce your risk of infection. Stitches also help reduce scarring.
Let’s take a look at how to know when you may need to get stitches.
The size of your laceration is an important indicator of whether it needs stitches. This includes the length and depth.
Your wound likely requires stitches if:
- it’s deeper or longer than half an inch
- it’s deep enough that fatty tissue, muscle, or bone is exposed
- it’s wide or gaping
The size of your cut also plays a role in how the wound is closed. Smaller, shallow wounds can sometimes be closed using sterile adhesive strips called Steri-Strips. Staples may also be used in place of stitches, especially with head wounds.
A laceration that is bleeding profusely and doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure likely requires stitches. Spurting blood may be a sign of a severed artery.
Get emergency medical care for bleeding that doesn’t stop with applied pressure or blood that is gushing or squirting from the wound.
Lacerations on certain parts of your body can increase the likelihood of needing stitches. Wounds on or across a joint will likely require stitches, especially if the wound opens when you move the joint. There is the possibility of damaging a ligament or tendon in these areas.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, cuts on or near the genitals and those on cosmetically significant areas, such as the face, should also be evaluated immediately. Cuts to areas of the face like the eyelids are especially concerning as they can impair functioning.
The causes of some wounds make medical treatment more important. This is especially the case with puncture wounds and wounds that are caused by a human or animal bite, which may need a tetanus booster or antibiotics, as well as stitches.
The risk of infection is higher with these types of wounds. Rabies is also a concern in the case of an animal bite.
These types of wounds should be evaluated by a doctor even if they’re not deep. This is especially true if they’re caused by a rusty or contaminated object like a nail or if the wound contains debris, like broken glass or gravel.
See a doctor right away if you notice any signs of infection, such as:
- redness around the wound
- red streaks spreading out from the wound
- increased swelling
- warmth
- pain and tenderness
- pus or drainage
- fever
An infection requires treatment with antibiotics and may also need stitches.
The following is some basic first aid for bad cuts that may require stitches:
- Apply pressure using a clean cloth or bandage and elevate the injured area.
- For profuse bleeding, continue to hold the pressure for 5 to 10 minutes without stopping to look at the cut.
- If blood soaks the cloth, place another cloth on top — don’t lift the original cloth.
- Once bleeding stops, wash your hands and then gently wash the wound with soap and water without scrubbing.
- If possible, remove dirt and debris from the area by letting the warm water from the faucet run over it.
- Cover the wound with gauze or a bandage.
Some injuries require immediate medical care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for any of the following:
- a cut that is spurting blood, which may indicate an artery has been cut
- a wound caused by a foreign object impaling the area
- a bullet or other high-pressure projectile object caused the injury
- a puncture wound caused by a rusty or contaminated object
- a human or animal bite
- a cut on the face, eyelids, or genitals
- inability to move a joint
- numbness or loss of sensation
- a laceration accompanied by a secondary injury, such as a broken bone or head injury
It’s not always easy to know when to get stitches. Even minor cuts can cause bleeding that might appear excessive.
Do your best to stay calm and apply direct pressure to the wound to try to stop the bleeding. Gently cleansing the area can reduce your risk of infection.
Get immediate medical care for serious injuries and bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure. Continue to apply pressure and keep the area elevated on your way to the hospital. Stitches can help minimize scarring and protect your wound from bacteria.
Last medically reviewed on September 25, 2018
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- Does my cut need stitches? (2017).
nhs.uk/common-health-questions/accidents-first-aid-and-treatments/does-my-cut-need-stitches/ - Does your cut need stitches? Find out how to tell. (2015).
health.clevelandclinic.org/does-your-cut-need-stitches-find-out-how-to-tell/ - Dowshen S. (2015). Cuts, scratches, and scrapes.
kidshealth.org/en/teens/cuts.html - Lacerations (cuts) without stitches. (n.d.).
urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P02830 - Lacerations with stitches. (n.d.).
stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=lacerations-with-stitches-90-P02831
