Cuts and Lacerations

A laceration is a cut through the skin. A deep cut that gapes open, keeps bleeding, or is on the face, hand, or a joint usually needs to be closed. Getting it closed within hours helps it heal well with less scarring.

What Is It

Kitchen knives, broken glass, tools, and falls cause most cuts. Cuts can be closed with stitches, staples, skin glue, or adhesive strips. Cuts are best closed within 6 to 12 hours, and up to 24 hours on the face. Dirty cuts and animal bites have a higher risk of infection.

Symptoms

A cut with edges that pull apart
Bleeding that does not stop with 10 minutes of pressure
Visible fat, muscle, or deep tissue
A cut over a joint that opens when you move
Numbness or weakness past the cut
Dirt or debris in the wound

Not sure if a cut is infected? Redness, warmth, and swelling that spread after day 2 may be cellulitis.

Treatment

At your visit: A provider cleans the wound and checks for damage to nerves and tendons. Cuts may be closed with stitches, staples, skin glue, or strips after numbing. A tetanus shot may be updated.

At home:

Press firmly with a clean cloth for 10 minutes without lifting
Rinse the cut under running water
Cover with a clean bandage
Keep the bandage clean and dry for the first day

Stitches usually come out in 5 to 14 days, depending on the location.

When to Get Care for a Cut

Watch at Home

A small, shallow cut with edges that stay together
Bleeding that stopped with pressure
Up to date on your tetanus shot

Come to Urgent Care Today

A cut that gapes open or is longer than half an inch
A cut on the face, hand, finger, or over a joint
Bleeding that needs more than 10 minutes of pressure
A dirty cut, or a cut from rusty metal or an animal bite
Your tetanus shot is more than 5 years old

Go to the Emergency Department

Spurting blood, or bleeding that does not slow with firm pressure
A finger or body part partly or fully cut off
Unable to move or feel a finger or toe past the cut
A deep cut to the chest, belly, or neck
An object stuck in the wound

FAQ

How do I know if a cut needs stitches?

A cut usually needs stitches if it gapes open, is longer than half an inch, keeps bleeding after 10 minutes of pressure, or is on the face, hand, or a joint.

How long do I have to get a cut stitched?

Most cuts should be closed within 6 to 12 hours. Cuts on the face can often be closed up to 24 hours later.

How do you stop a cut from bleeding?

Stop a cut from bleeding by pressing firmly with a clean cloth for 10 minutes without lifting. Raise the injured area above the heart if you can.

Do I need a tetanus shot for a cut?

You need a tetanus shot for a cut if your last one was more than 10 years ago, or more than 5 years ago for a dirty or deep wound.

Can urgent care stitch a cut?

Yes, urgent care can close most cuts. At Vitality Urgent Care, a provider can clean and close most cuts and update your tetanus shot. No appointment or referral is needed.

When is a cut an emergency?

A cut is an emergency when blood is spurting, bleeding does not slow with pressure, a body part is cut off, or you cannot move or feel past the cut.

Last reviewed October 2026