Laceration - sutures or staples - at home: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P A laceration is a cut that goes all the way through the skin. The cut can be small and cared for at home. Or it can be large and need medical attention right away.
P If the cut is large, it may need stitches or staples to close the wound and stop the bleeding.
P It is important to take care of the injury site after the doctor applies the stitches. This helps prevent infection and allows the wound to heal properly.

T How to Care For Stitches (sutures)
P Stitches are special threads that are sewn through the skin at an injury site to bring a wound together. Care for your stitches and wound as follows:
- Keep the area dry for the first 24 to 48 hours after stitches have been placed.
- Then, you can start to gently wash around the site 1 to 2 times daily. Wash with cool water and soap. Clean as close to the stitches as you can. DO NOT wash or rub the stitches directly.
- Dab the site dry with a clean paper towel. DO NOT rub the area. Avoid using the towel directly on the stitches.
- If there was a bandage over the stitches, replace it with a new clean bandage and antibiotic treatment, if so instructed.
- Your provider should have informed you when you need to have the stitches removed. If not, contact your provider for an appointment.

T How to Care For Staples
P Medical staples are made of special metal and are not the same as office staples. Care for your staples and wound as follows:
- Keep the area completely dry for 24 to 48 hours after staples are placed.
- Then, you can start to gently wash around the staple site 1 to 2 times daily. Wash with cool water and soap. Clean as close to the staples as you can. DO NOT wash or rub the staples directly.
- Dab the site dry with a clean paper towel. DO NOT rub the area. Avoid using the towel directly on the staples.
- Your provider should have informed you when you need to have the staples removed. If not, contact your provider for an appointment.

T Important Tips
P Keep the following in mind:
- Prevent the wound from re-opening by keeping activity to a minimum.
- Make sure your hands are clean when you care for the wound.
- If the laceration is on your scalp, it is OK to shampoo and wash. Be gentle and avoid excessive exposure to water.
- Take proper care of your wound to help reduce scarring.
- Call your provider if you have questions or concerns about how to care for stitches or staples at home.
- You can take pain medicine, such as ibuprofen, as directed for pain at the wound site.
- Follow-up with your provider to make sure the wound is healing properly.

T When to Call the Doctor
P Call your doctor right away if:
- There is any redness, pain, or yellow pus around the injury. This could mean there is an infection.
- There is bleeding at the injury site that will not stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure.
- You have new numbness or tingling around the wound area or beyond it.
- You have a fever of 100°F (38.3°C) or higher.
- There is pain at the site that will not go away, even after taking pain medicine.
- The wound has split open.
- Your stitches or staples have come out too soon.

T Alternative Names
P Skin cut - caring for stitches; Skin cut - suture care; Skin cut - caring for staples

T Images
- Incision closures

T References
P Beard JM, Osborn J. Common office procedures. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 28.
P Simon BC, Hern HG. Wound management principles. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 59.

T Review Date 1/15/2016
P Updated by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

T Related MedlinePlus Health Topics
- Wounds and Injuries

