🧵 How to Tell When a Wound Needs Stitches

Information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice and you should always seek appropriate professional help or seek immediate medical attention for serious conditions. See full disclaimer here.

Not every cut or wound needs stitches, but some do — and knowing the difference can prevent infection, reduce scarring, and help the wound heal properly.
If you’re unsure, it’s always better to have a wound checked by a medical professional.

🩹 Step 1: Assess the Depth and Length of the Wound

A wound may need stitches if it’s:

• Deeper than 5mm (¼ inch)

• Longer than 2cm (¾ inch)

• You can see fat, muscle, or bone beneath the skin

• The edges of the wound cannot easily be pressed together

If the wound gapes open when you move or stretch the skin, it’s likely deep enough to require closure.

💉 Step 2: Check the Location

Certain areas of the body are more prone to reopening or scarring and may need stitches even for smaller cuts:

• Face or head: especially around eyes, lips, or nose

• Joints: knees, elbows, fingers, or knuckles

• Hands or feet: particularly if the cut crosses the palm or sole

• Over joints or areas under tension

If a wound is on the face or scalp, professional treatment is always recommended to reduce scarring and check for hidden damage.

🚨 Step 3: Look for Heavy or Persistent Bleeding

If bleeding:

• Soaks through several dressings

• Doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of firm pressure

• Or spurts with each heartbeat

Then it may need medical attention and possibly stitches or glue to close it properly.

If you see bright red, pulsing blood, that may indicate an arterial bleed — call 999 or 112 immediately.

🧼 Step 4: Consider the Cause and Cleanliness

Stitches may be necessary if the wound was caused by:

• A dirty or rusty object (risk of infection/tetanus)

• An animal or human bite

• Broken glass or sharp metal

• A puncture wound that might trap dirt inside

If there’s debris in the wound that you can’t remove, or if it’s showing signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus, or warmth), seek medical care right away.

🩰 Step 5: Think About Healing and Scarring

If you’re concerned about scarring — particularly for wounds on the face, hands, or joints — a doctor or nurse can use special techniques such as steri-strips, glue, or fine sutures to help the wound heal neatly.

🕒 Step 6: Timing Matters

If a wound does need stitches, it’s best to get them within 6 to 8 hours of injury.
After that, there’s a higher risk of infection, and the wound may need to be cleaned and closed differently.

✅ Key Takeaways

• Deep, long, or gaping wounds usually need stitches.

• Wounds that keep bleeding or are caused by dirty/rusty objects must be checked by a professional.

• Cuts on the face, joints, or hands should be assessed for closure, even if small.

• Always seek medical attention within 6–8 hours for the best outcome.

🚑 When to Call 999 or 112

Call for emergency help if:

• Bleeding is heavy or spurting

• The wound is large or deep with visible tissue or bone

• The person feels faint, dizzy, or shows signs of shock

• The injury was caused by a serious accident or machinery

🎓 Learn More with DAC Education

Our First Aid at Work (FAW) and Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) courses teach practical wound management — including when to escalate care and how to minimise infection risk.
For advanced responders, our FREC 3 course includes suturing awareness and wound closure techniques.

👉 Book a First Aid Course
(Delivered at our Suffolk HQ or on-site for groups of six or more.)

Disclaimer

This article provides general information about wound care.
Always seek professional medical assessment if you suspect a wound requires stitches, or if bleeding cannot be controlled.