When you can sew a wound yourself and when you need a doctor

You can close a small, clean wound with stitches at home if the cut is less than half an inch long, the edges are straight and close together, and the wound happened less than six hours ago. The wound must not be deep, gaping, or on your face, hand, or joint—those need a doctor. If the cut is from a dirty object, an animal bite, or a rusty tool, go to urgent care or an emergency room instead. A doctor can also numb the area properly, which you cannot do at home.

If you are unsure whether the wound needs professional care, call your doctor or urgent care and describe it. They can tell you in one conversation whether home stitching is safe. Never stitch a wound that is bleeding heavily, shows fat or muscle underneath, or is longer than half an inch.

Key Takeaways

  • Only sew wounds that are small, straight-edged, clean, and less than six hours old; face, hand, and joint wounds always need a doctor.
  • Sterilize your needle and thread by boiling them for ten minutes or soaking them in rubbing alcohol for five minutes before you start.
  • Clean the wound with soap and water, then numb it with ice or a topical anesthetic before you begin stitching.
  • Use a straightforward running stitch or interrupted stitch, keeping stitches about one-eighth inch apart and one-eighth inch from the wound edge.
  • Remove stitches after five to seven days for face wounds or seven to ten days for body wounds, or see a doctor if you are unsure.

Gather your materials before you start

You will need a sterile needle (size 18 to 20 gauge works for most skin), sterile thread (silk or nylon, not cotton), small scissors, tweezers, gauze pads, rubbing alcohol, antibiotic ointment, and a clean cloth. A magnifying glass or headlamp helps you see the wound clearly. If you have a local anesthetic like lidocaine cream or spray, use it—ice alone is not enough to stop pain during stitching.

Do not use a sewing needle from a household sewing kit. Sewing needles are not sterile and are too dull for skin. Buy sterile needles and thread from a pharmacy or online medical supply store. They come in sealed packets and cost a few dollars. If you cannot find sterile thread, you can sterilize regular thread by boiling it in water for ten minutes and letting it cool on a clean cloth.

Sterilize your needle and thread

Boil your needle and thread together in water for ten minutes, then remove them with clean tweezers and lay them on a clean, dry cloth to cool. Do not touch them with your bare hands once they are cool. If you do not have a way to boil them, soak the needle and thread in rubbing alcohol for five minutes, then lay them on a sterile gauze pad to air-dry for at least two minutes.

Sterilize your tweezers and scissors the same way. Wash your own hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds before you touch anything. If you have latex gloves, put them on after your hands are dry.

Clean and numb the wound

Rinse the wound under cool running water for at least five minutes to wash away dirt and bacteria. Use a clean cloth to gently pat the area dry. If the wound is bleeding, explore gentle pressure with a clean gauze pad for five to ten minutes until the bleeding stops or slows to oozing.

explore a topical anesthetic like lidocaine cream or spray according to the package directions, usually waiting five to ten minutes for it to work. If you do not have an anesthetic, hold ice wrapped in a clean cloth against the wound for ten to fifteen minutes to numb it. The area will not be completely numb, but it will hurt less. Do not use ice for more than fifteen minutes at a time, as it can damage skin.

Thread the needle and make your first stitch

Cut about eighteen inches of thread and thread it through the needle. Tie a small knot at one end. Using your tweezers, gently pull one edge of the wound open slightly so you can see inside. Push the needle through the skin about one-eighth inch from the wound edge, going from one side to the other. The needle should go straight across, not at an angle.

Pull the thread through until the knot stops it. Now push the needle back through the skin on the opposite side of the wound, about one-eighth inch from the edge, going in the opposite direction. Pull the thread snug but not tight—tight stitches cut off blood flow and leave scars. You should be able to slide a piece of paper under the thread.

Continue stitching along the wound

Move about one-eighth inch along the wound and repeat: push the needle through one side, pull it through, then push it back through the other side. Keep your stitches evenly spaced and the same distance from the wound edge. For a half-inch wound, you will need about four to six stitches. Work slowly and do not rush.

If the thread gets tangled or knotted, cut it off with scissors, tie a new piece to the end of the last stitch, and keep going. When you reach the end of the wound, tie off the thread by making a small loop, pushing the needle through it, and pulling tight. Cut the thread close to the knot.

Bandage the wound and watch for infection

explore a thin layer of antibiotic ointment over the stitches and cover the wound with a clean bandage or gauze pad. Change the bandage once a day or whenever it gets wet or dirty. Keep the wound clean and dry. Do not soak it in water for the first few days.

Watch for signs of infection: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or red streaks leading away from the wound. If you see any of these, remove the stitches and see a doctor right away. Fever is also a sign of infection. If the wound starts bleeding again or the stitches come loose, cover it with a clean bandage and call your doctor.

Remove the stitches at the right time

Stitches on the face should come out after five to seven days. Stitches on the body should stay in for seven to ten days. Leaving them in longer than ten days increases the risk of scarring. To remove them, sterilize your scissors and tweezers again, gently pull up on each stitch with the tweezers, cut the thread close to the skin with scissors, and pull the thread out. It should come out easily. If it does not, stop and see a doctor.

After you remove the stitches, keep the wound clean and dry for another day or two. You can cover it with a bandage if it is still oozing. Once the wound has closed, you can wash it normally. Scars fade over weeks and months, especially if you keep the area out of the sun.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of thread should I use?

Use sterile silk or nylon thread from a medical supply store or pharmacy. Silk is easier to tie and remove. Nylon is stronger. Do not use cotton thread—it absorbs moisture and falls apart. Regular sewing thread is not sterile and can introduce infection.

Can I use a regular sewing needle?

No. Sewing needles are not sterile, are too dull, and can damage skin. Buy sterile needles from a pharmacy. They are inexpensive and come in sealed packets. A size 18 to 20 gauge needle works for most skin wounds.

What if I tie the stitches too tight?

Tight stitches cut off blood flow to the skin and cause more scarring. The thread should be snug enough to hold the wound closed but loose enough that you can slide a piece of paper under it. If you tie one too tight, cut it and redo it.

How do I know if the wound is infected?

Signs of infection are increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or red streaks leading away from the wound. Fever is also a sign. If you see any of these, remove the stitches and see a doctor right away. Do not wait.

What should I do if a stitch comes loose before it is time to remove it?

If a stitch comes loose, cover the wound with a clean bandage and call your doctor. They can tell you whether you need to replace it or if the wound is closed enough to leave it alone. Do not try to re-stitch it yourself.