Laceration Care Instructions

A laceration is a cut that may go through all layers of the skin. The cut may also go into the tissue that is right under the skin. Some cuts heal on their own.

Others need to be closed with stitches (sutures), staples, skin adhesive strips, or skin glue. Taking care of your injury lowers your risk of infection, helps your injury to heal better, and may prevent scarring.

Supplies needed:

• Soap.
• Water.
• Hand sanitizer.
• Bandage (dressing).
• Antibiotic ointment.
• Clean towel.

How to take care of your cut

Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your wound or changing your bandage. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.

If your doctor used stitches or staples:

• Keep the wound clean and dry.
• If you were given a bandage, change it at least once a day as told by your doctor. You should also change it if it gets wet or dirty.
• Keep the wound completely dry for the first 24 hours, or as told by your doctor. After that, you may take a shower or a bath. Do not get the wound soaked in water until after the stitches or staples have been removed.
• Clean the wound once a day, or as told by your doctor:
  • Wash the wound with soap and water.
  • Rinse the wound with water to remove all soap.
  • Pat the wound dry with a clean towel. Do not rub the wound.
• After you clean the wound, put a thin layer of antibiotic ointment on it as told by your doctor. This ointment:
  • Helps to prevent infection.
  • Keeps the bandage from sticking to the wound.
• Have your stitches or staples removed as told by your doctor.

If your doctor used skin adhesive strips:

• Keep the wound clean and dry.
• If you were given a bandage, you should change it at least once a day as told by your doctor. You should also change it if it gets wet or dirty.
• Do not get the skin adhesive strips wet. You can take a shower or a bath, but keep the wound dry.
• If the wound gets wet, pat it dry with a clean towel. Do not rub the wound.
• Skin adhesive strips fall off on their own. You can trim the strips as the wound heals. Do not remove any strips that are still stuck to the wound. They will fall off after a while.

If your doctor used skin glue:

• Try to keep your wound dry, but you may briefly wet it in the shower or bath. Do not soak the wound in water, such as by swimming.
• After you take a shower or a bath, gently pat the wound dry with a clean towel. Do not rub the wound.
• Do not do any activities that will make you really sweaty until the skin glue has fallen off on its own.
• Do not apply liquid, cream, or ointment medicine to your wound while the skin glue is still on.
• If you were given a bandage, you should change it at least once a day or as told by your doctor. You should also change it if it gets dirty or wet.
• If a bandage is placed over the wound, do not let the tape touch the skin glue.
• Do not pick at the glue. The skin glue usually stays on for 5–10 days. Then, it falls off the skin.

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• If you were given antibiotic medicine or ointment, take or apply it as told by your doctor. Do not stop using it even if your condition improves.
• Do not scratch or pick at the wound.
• Check your wound every day for signs of infection. Watch for:
  • Redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid, blood, or pus.
• Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.
• If directed, put ice on the affected area:
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
• Prevent scarring by covering your wound with sunscreen of at least 30 SPF whenever you are outside after your wound has healed.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Get help if:

• You got a tetanus shot and you have any of these problems at the injection site:
  • Swelling.
  • Very bad pain.
  • Redness.
  • Bleeding.
• You have a fever.
• A wound that was closed breaks open.
• You notice a bad smell coming from your wound or your bandage.
• You notice something coming out of the wound, such as wood or glass.
• Medicine does not relieve your pain.
• You have more redness, swelling, or pain at the site of your wound.
• You have fluid, blood, or pus coming from your wound.
• You notice a change in the color of your skin near your wound.
• You need to change the bandage often because fluid, blood, or pus is coming from the wound.
• You start to have a new rash.
• You start to have numbness around the wound.

Get help right away if:

• You have very bad swelling around the wound.
• Your pain suddenly gets worse and is very bad.
• You notice painful lumps near the wound or anywhere on your body.
• You have a red streak going away from your wound.
• The wound is on your hand or foot, and:
  • You cannot move a finger or toe.
  • Your fingers or toes look pale or bluish.

Summary

• A laceration is a cut that may go through all layers of the skin. The cut may also go into the tissue right under the skin.
• Some cuts heal on their own. Others need to be closed with stitches, staples, skin adhesive strips, or skin glue.
• Follow your doctor’s instructions for caring for your cut. Proper care of a cut lowers the risk of infection, helps the cut heal better, and prevents scarring.