Exploring Health Concerns and Treatments

If you have just gotten cut or have a wound and you are wondering if you need to get stitches, you want to see a medical professional before it's too late and you have other problems. A medical center will have the staff to accommodate your injuries and problems, and you want to consider the following things when you go out to get treatment.

You Only Have a Short Window of Time

Depending on the location of the wound or cut and how deep it is, there is an optimal period of time when you should have the skin stitched shut. It's best to have the area stitched within the first 6-8 hours after the injury takes place, and if not, it may not close properly. Ideally, you should find a medical center right away so the stitches can be performed early enough for a speedy recovery.

You May Need an Antibiotic

Not only may it be necessary for the area to be stitched, but you also may need to get an antibiotic to prevent an infection in the wound. If this is the case, you'll need to have this prescribed by a doctor, and they will need to see you and treat you to do this. An infected cut could lead to a variety of problems, so it's important to have the medical professionals clean it out properly and prescribe medication if necessary.

There Could Be Other Injuries

You could have other injuries to the area where the wound is, but you might be so caught off guard by the wound that you aren't noticing the pain. If it is a facial injury, you could be dealing with a concussion, or you could have a broken bone or other medical concern. This is why you want to have a medical professional examine the area.

Don't put off having your cut or wound looked at if you think that it may need stitches. The depth of the wound can affect whether you can use the dissolvable stitches or traditional stitches, but if you need to have the area closed, you want it done right away. Ask the medical professionals about what you can do to minimize scarring, how to treat the area appropriately, and what needs to be done to care for the wound properly. The sooner you get the area looked at, the sooner you'll know what needs to be done so you can start healing.