5 Reasons Your Minor Injury Needs Stitches

Even Minor Injuries can cause problems for the victim. Try to seek medical care as soon as possible. For more information, call us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Coral Springs FL, Parkland FL, Tamarac FL, Margate FL, North Lauderdale FL, Coconut Creek FL.

Cuts and tears to the skin do not always cause people to rush to receive medical care. Many times, the injury can seem minor but will continue to cause problems for the victim. Cuts that look insignificant may become more serious than expected. Stitches can help to reduce the risks possible with even a minor cut. Here are some examples of when to seek medical help.

1. Wound Stays Open

Sometimes the biggest problem is when a wound will not scab over or heal. Cuts on a joint or areas of the body that experience a lot of movement or pressure may stay open or reopen easily. Stitches can enable the edges of the skin to stay together so the wound can heal faster. Open wounds put the body at risk for infection.

One of the most important duties of the skin is to act as a barrier for the body. Healthy skin keeps out dirt and bacteria that could otherwise enter the bloodstream. A wound is an easy opening for bacteria, and it is difficult to keep it protected for days or weeks when a cut continues to reopen.

2. Wound is a Facial Cut

People with a facial wound often worry about the potential severity of a scar. Stitches can help a wound heal faster and lower the risk of scarring. A doctor can also repair wounds with uneven edges to reduce the size of the opening and any potential scar that may appear. The good medical care that comes with stitches can also help to prevent infection that could increase the risk of scarring.

3. Wound Keeps Bleeding

A minor cut should clot and stop bleeding within a few minutes. Get medical help for any injury that continues to seep blood even when it stays protected and direct pressure has been applied. Minimal blood loss may not risk the life of the injured person, but it makes the treatment of the wound less effective.

The blood needs to clot to allow the healing process to begin. Scabs can form and seal the wound, so the skin gets the right amount of oxygen and nutrients as the blood vessels open for this purpose. In time, the skin repair will begin.

4. Wound is Jagged

Straight edges heal faster than jagged wounds because there is less area for the body to heal. A doctor will create as straight a stitched area as possible when closing a wound. The rate of how quickly the wound heals can also speed up because the entire wound will stay closed. Parts of an irregularly shaped, unstitched wound may stay open longer and have an increased risk of infection.

5. Wound Heals Too Slowly

Some people cannot heal as quickly as others. The slower rate of healing could be because of genetics, age, or health condition. Diabetics, for example, are always at risk of infection and other complications because of their slow rate of healing. Other causes of slow healing include certain medical treatments, obesity, and autoimmune diseases.

Anyone with a medical condition or other risk factors that slow their ability to heal may need stitches. The elderly and ill may also have a higher infection risk or have a tough time ridding their body of infection when one develops. A visit to a medical facility for stitches can ease those worries and ensure the patient stays safe.

Minor cuts and puncture wounds can cause more trouble than people expect. At Family Medicine Walk-In Center, we can review the injury, clean the wound site thoroughly, and make certain the patient has what they need to heal quickly and with less scarring. Treatment at our facility does not require an appointment, and we are open seven days a week.