Summertime is the season for scrapes and cuts. It seems almost impossible for an active child to avoid them! When a hug from mom or dad isn’t enough, read below to find some tips on how to help wounds heal properly (all information gathered from the AAP’s Healthy Children website).

What is the best way to treat a small cut or scrape?

Almost all active bleeding can be stopped by applying direct pressure with clean gauze or cloth over the site for five or ten minutes. The most common mistake is interrupting the pressure too early to peek at the wound. 

• Once bleeding stops: Gently wash the wound with soap and water for five minutes. If your child persistently objects, try soaking the wound in the bathtub. Cleaning the wound will decrease the chance of infection and prevent dark spots caused by dirt trapped in the skin.
• After cleaning: Apply a small amount of antibacterial ointment to keep the wound moist and cover it with a dry gauze or bandage until healed.

How do I know whether my child needs stitches?

Here are some guidelines to help you determine whether stitches are needed:

• Cuts that go all the way through the skin may benefit from stitches.
• Any cut that is gaping open with visible dark red muscle or yellowish fat should probably be closed, even if it is small.
• Any cut that is gaping and is more than ½ inch long should probably be closed. Get a ruler and measure it if you are not sure. Cuts smaller than this may not require closure, but if they are gaping, then it is best to have them checked out.
• Small cuts that are not gaping may not require actual stitches but may still benefit from steri-strips.
• If your child has a cut that is deep, gaping, or in a cosmetically sensitive area, call your pediatrician to determine if stitches are needed.

What are the options available nowadays for closing a small cut?

• Skin glue was approved for use in 1998 and has become very popular. It is applied by rubbing it over the cut while the cut is being held closed. It is a good choice for straight cuts and is quick and painless. If done well, the cosmetic outcome is the same as stitches. However, it cannot be used to close a wound that has any tension on it from muscle usage. This is because skin glue is not as strong as stitches and, when used in areas of tension, the risk of the cut reopening is high.
• Steri-strips (or “butterfly” bandage closures) are narrow adhesive strips placed over a cut, with a bit of tension to keep it closed. They are used for small cuts that are not very deep or over a joint or areas of tension. If they stay in place for at least three days, the outcome can be just as good as stitches. However, they are not as strong as stitches and do not stay in place well.
• Stitches provide more strength and little to no risk of being pulled off too soon. However, they can be traumatic due to the time and pain involved in putting them in. Absorbable sutures are stitches that do NOT need to be removed. Non-absorbable sutures are stitches that need to be removed, usually 5-12 days later, depending on the location.
• Staples are most often used for cuts in the scalp (within the hair). They are very fast and close the cut almost as well as stitches.

My child has a scar that seems to be getting bigger. Should I be concerned?

Sometimes, no matter what you do, a scar might not look as good as you want it to. Most of the time, this is a cosmetic issue. Occasionally, there are medical problems that can arise. If you suspect your child’s scar is getting bigger, talk to your child’s pediatrician. You may be referred to a specialist to see if treatment is needed.

As always, in the case of an emergency call 9-1-1 immediately. This blog is not a substitute for medical advice. Be sure to talk to your child’s medical provider with any questions.