There's no doubt that you or a loved one has endured a major cut or scrape. Most think to just clean it up and bandage it, but these types of injuries sometimes require additional medical attention, including stitches. So, how do you know if a cut needs stitches? The following information may help you decide if you need to go to your nearest urgent care center for treatment:

Is the Injury Continually Bleeding?

When you get a cut or laceration, one of the first things you want to do is control the bleeding. You can do this by applying pressure with a cloth or towel. If you cannot get the bleeding to stop after a few minutes with the applied pressure, or if the bleeding continues to soak through the cloth or towel, you likely need stitches to control the blood loss.

What Does the Injury Look Like?

You can also determine whether or not you may need stitches by looking at the appearance of the injury. If the injury seems deep or the skin around the injury has ragged, irregular edges, chances are you will need stitches to properly close the wound.

Where Is the Location of the Injury?

Another consideration is the location of the wound. The first thing you need to think about is if the cut is near a major joint or on an area of the body that moves constantly. This includes knees, fingers, toes, eyes, and near the mouth. These areas of the body can reopen a wound easily since they are always moving. You also need to think about where the injury is with regard to scarring. If you have a deep cut on your face, stitches can help reduce the scarring and help the injury heal more evenly.

Did the Injury Get Dirty?

No matter the size of a cut or other injury, it must be cleaned to heal properly and avoid infection. If you cleaned the injured area but still can see visible dirt inside the wound, you need to have it treated medically. Another consideration is the object that injured you. For example, if you were cut on a rusty fence, you need to go to urgent care not only for stitches but also a tetanus shot to prevent further complications.

There are many benefits to getting a cut, laceration, or major scrape treated with stitches. Not only will the injury be cleaned and treated, but you will also heal faster, decrease the odds of scars, and prevent infection. Stitches only take a few minutes and are easy to care for. 

For more information, visit a local urgent care.