If your child has had a cut, their wound may need to be either stitched (sutured) or glued.
There are many differentstitch types and techniques. Sometimes dissolvable stitches are used, and sometimes stiches that need to be removed are used. Your doctor will advise you if your child has stitches that need to be removed.
A special glue (e.g. Dermabond)is another type of treatment used in hospitals and medical clinics to keep the edges of the skin together. It has the same effect as stitches,and only takes about a minute to apply and dry. The glue is transparent so youcan see the wound.
Care at home
Your child'scutwill be red, tender and swollen straight after stitching or gluing. These symptoms should clear as the wound starts to heal (after about two to three days).
Your child may need some simple pain relief (such as paracetamol) in the first couple of days following an injury. Speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist, or see our fact sheet Pain relief for children.
All wounds, whether stitched or glued, will leave a scar. Initially the scar may be red or purple in colour, and will fade to light pink, white or nearly invisibleover time. This may take up to a year.
It’s important to protect your child's wound from the sun by keeping it covered. To prevent the scar from darkening, use sunscreen on the healed wound for at least 12 months.
Stitches
- Take care not to get the wound wet for at least five days.Keeping the wound dry will allow the skin to come together and start the healing process.
- Do not let your child go swimminguntil after the stitches have been removed and the wound is healed.
- Try not to let yourchildpick any scabs, crustsor dressingsfrom the wound area. They will come away on their own, once the wound has completely healed.
- If the stitches come out and the wound is open (gaping) or it has been less than 48 hours since thewound has beenstitched,see your GP or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
Dissolvable stitches
- Your doctor will tell you if your childhas dissolvable stitches.
- Dissolvable stitches disappearby themselves and do not need to be removed. This may take up to two weeks, or longer in some cases.
- It is important to not get the wound wet for at least five days.
Glue
- Keep the wound dry. Your child may have a shower or a brief bath after 24 hours, butdo not soak or scrub the wound until it has fully healed. Pat the wound dry with a towel after a shower or bath.
- Do not let your child go swimming or have a soakin the bathforseven days.
- Do not let your childrub, scratch or pickat the glue or the wound. If adhesive tape (e.g. Steri-Strips) has been applied over the glue, allow it to fall off naturally.Do not pick it off as this may cause the wound to open. The glue may take up to three weeks to completelyfall off your child'swound.
- Do not use creams or ointmentsover the glue or near the adhesive tape. This may cause the glue to soften and come off.
When to see a doctor
Take your child to see your GP if there are signs the wound is becoming infected. These include:
- the woundbecomes more swollen orred around the edges and the redness spreads to the surrounding skin or is hot to the touch
- your child develops a fever
- the wound smells or there is pus (this is usually yellow or green in colour).
Also see a GP if:
- the glue has come off or a stitch/stitches fall out and the wound is open (gaping) or bleeding
- youare worried for any reason.
If your child’s stitches are not dissolvable, you will need to make an appointment to see your GP to get the stitchesremoved(an appointment may have been made when the stiches were put in). Your emergency doctor or nurse will advise you when to do this. The time for removal of stitchesvaries depending on where on the body they are, but it isusually between five to 10 days. It is important to get your child's stitches taken out on the correct day, as leaving them in for longer may lead to unnecessary scarring.
Key points to remember
- Keep the wound dry for five days, and protect the wound from the sun.
- Do not allow your child to pick or scratch at the stitches/glue or dressings.
- Take your child to the GP if the wound becomes more red or swollen, if it smells or there is pus.
- Take your child to the GP if a stitch falls out and the wound is bleeding or open.
- See your GP to get the stitches removed (unless other arrangements have been made) in the time specified.
For more information
- Kids Health Info fact sheet: Pain relief for children
- Kids Health Info fact sheet: Fever in children
Common questions our doctors are asked
What can I do to stop my child scratching at her stitches?
When wounds are healing, it is natural for them to becomeitchy. If your child is old enough to understand, explain that if they scratchthey will prevent the cut from healing properly, and that scratching might makethe scar worse. For young children and babies, wearing mittens may help preventthem from scratching.
Are staples ever used in children?
Although they are commonly used in adults, staples arerarely used on children. They may be used for larger cuts. If staples are usedon your child, caring for the staples is similar to caring for non-dissolvablestitches. A GP will be able to remove your child's staples.
Developed by The Royal Children's Hospital Emergency department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.
ReviewedMarch 2018.
This information is awaiting routine review. Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.
Kids Health Info is supported by The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. To donate, visit www.rchfoundation.org.au.
FAQs
Keep the cut dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. After this, you can shower if your doctor okays it. Pat the cut dry. Don't soak the cut, such as in a bathtub.
How do you take care of glued stitches? ›
How to care for a wound closed with skin glue
- avoid touching the glue for 24 hours.
- try to keep the wound dry for the first 5 days.
- have showers rather than baths, to avoid soaking the wound.
- use a shower cap if the wound is on the head.
- pat the wound dry if it gets wet – do not rub it.
How can you care for your child at home?
- After the first 24 to 48 hours, wash around the cut with clean water 2 times a day. ...
- You may cover the cut with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage.
- Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
Keep the cut dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. After this, you can shower if your doctor okays it. Pat the cut dry. Don't soak the cut, such as in a bathtub.
Can my child go to school with stitches? ›
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), two criteria warrant a note from your Health Care Provider (HCP) when your children return to school following extended illness, orthopedic injury, surgery, and/or stitches: (1) when there is a question about the child's diagnosis being a health risk for others in ...
How long should you keep a glued wound covered? ›
Keep the wound dry for five days, and protect the wound from the sun. Do not allow your child to pick or scratch at the stitches/glue or dressings. Take your child to the GP if the wound becomes more red or swollen, if it smells or there is pus.
How long does a surgical glue allergy last? ›
This can include contact with surgical instruments or supplies that are not hypoallergenic, such as bandages, surgical glue, or antiseptic solutions. This type of rash is usually localized to one or two spots on the body. Treatment is simple and most cases will resolve within a few weeks.
What not to do with stitches? ›
It's important not to scratch your stitches; even though they're strong, scratching may damage them. You should avoid contact sports, such as football or hockey, to give your wound the best possible chance to heal. You should not go swimming until your wound has healed and your stitches have been removed.
Should I cover my stitches at night? ›
Should you keep stitches covered? You'll likely leave the hospital or your provider's office with your stitches already covered, and Dr. Yaakovian recommends leaving them dressed for two to three days. During this time, avoid getting the covering wet.
Is Vaseline or Neosporin better for stitches? ›
-Apply Vaseline or Aquaphor healing ointment to the sutured site 3-4x/ day for the next three to four days. The ointment will help the wound heal more quickly and minimize scarring. We prefer Vaseline or Aquaphor to antibiotic ointment due to the increase in allergic reactions to antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin.
Medical adhesives don't involve poking anything through the skin, so they are less painful than stitches or staples. Adhesives take less time than stitches. There is nothing to remove since the adhesive eventually breaks down and is absorbed (internally) or peels and falls off (externally).
What to do if Dermabond comes off too early? ›
The Dermabond will hold your child's incision together at skin level. It will loosen from the skin and fall off in 5 to 10 days. Exposure to water may make it fall off sooner. Call your child's doctor if the edges of the incision open or pull apart.
Do stitches need to be covered? ›
Keep your stitches or staples dry and covered with a bandage. Non-absorbable stitches and staples need to be kept dry for 1 to 2 days. Absorbable stitches sometimes need to be kept dry longer. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep your stitches dry.
What are the restrictions after getting stitches? ›
The first day: Keep your wound area dry for the first 24 hours after the doctor sewed in the stitches. You'll lower your risk of infection. Follow your doctor's instructions on when you can start cleaning the area and how to do it. Usually, you have to wait at least a day before cleaning.
Do stitches leave scars on kids? ›
Most cuts, even those fixed by stitches, leave a small scar. That's because when the deeper layer of the skin is injured, the body uses the protein collagen to help fill in the cut area. The filled-in area becomes a scar. Over time, most scars fade or get smaller.
Is ibuprofen ok after stitches? ›
Take Extra-strength Acetaminophen when pain begins - do not wait until it is severe. Do not take any aspirin, Ecotrin, Motrin, Advil, or Ibuprofen products. If the surgery is on hands, fingers, lower legs and/or feet, elevate these areas whenever at rest — this should minimize swelling and pain.
How long should you keep stitches covered? ›
Here is some general advice: Keep your stitches or staples dry and covered with a bandage. Non-absorbable stitches and staples need to be kept dry for 1 to 2 days. Absorbable stitches sometimes need to be kept dry longer.
Why do hospitals use glue instead of stitches? ›
Here's why we use skin adhesive instead of stitches:
It is less painful. There are no needle pokes. It is a faster procedure. Often, it does not require a follow-up visit, saving you another trip to the doctor.
How to care for dissolvable stitches? ›
After the first 24 to 48 hours, wash around the wound with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. They can slow healing. You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage.
Can I get my stitches wet after 7 days? ›
After those first 48 hours, though, it's totally fine to get your stitches briefly wet via the light spray of a shower. But emphasis on "briefly" here. Dr. Yaakovian stresses that you'll want to avoid soaking or submerging your stitches in water for about four weeks.
