Cuts on the Face Closed With Stitches in Children: Care Instructions

Overview

A cut on your child's face can be on the chin, cheek, nose, forehead, eyelid, lip, or ear.

The doctor used stitches to close the cut. Using stitches helps the cut heal and reduces scarring. The doctor may also have called in a specialist, such as a plastic surgeon, to close the cut.

If the cut went deep and through the skin, the doctor may have put in two layers of stitches. The deeper layer brings the deep part of the cut together. These stitches will dissolve and don't need to be removed. The stitches in the upper layer are the ones you see on the cut. Your child will need to have those stitches removed, usually in 3 to 5 days.

Your child will probably have a bandage. The doctor may have given a tetanus vaccine as part of the treatment.

The doctor has checked your child carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.

Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and contact your doctor if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Follow the doctor's instructions about when to bring your child back to have the stitches removed.
• Keep the cut dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. After this, your child can shower if your doctor says it's okay. Pat the cut dry. Don't soak the cut, such as in a bathtub. Your doctor will tell you when it's safe to get the cut wet.
• If the doctor told you how to care for your child’s cut, follow the doctor's instructions. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:
  • Wash the area 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 nonstick bandage.
  • Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
  • Avoid using an antibiotic ointment unless the doctor recommends it.
• Help your child avoid any activity that could cause the cut to reopen.
• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine.
  • If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
  • Store your child’s prescription pain medicines where no one else can get to them. When you are done using them, dispose of them quickly and safely. Your local pharmacy or hospital may have a drop-off site.

When should you call for help?

Contact your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• Your child has new or worse pain.
• The skin near the cut is cold or pale or changes color.
• Your child has tingling, weakness, or numbness near the cut.
• The cut starts to bleed, and blood soaks through the bandage. (Oozing small amounts of blood is normal.)
• Your child has symptoms of infection, such as:
  • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness around the cut.
  • Red streaks leading from the cut.
  • Pus draining from the cut.
  • A fever.

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

• Your child does not get better as expected.