Face Laceration: Stitches or Tape (Child)

Home care

• Your child’s health care provider may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection. Follow all directions for giving this medicine to your child. Make sure your child takes the medicine until it's gone even if your child feels better unless told to stop. You should not have any medicine left over.

• If your child has pain, give them pain medicine as advised by your child’s health care provider. Don't give ibuprofen to children age 6 months or younger. Never give aspirin to a child or teen. It could cause a rare but serious condition called Reye syndrome. Don’t give your child any other medicine without asking the provider first.

• Follow the provider’s directions on how to care for the cut.

• Wash your hands with soap and clean, running water before and after caring for your child. This helps prevent infection.

• If a bandage was applied and it becomes wet or dirty, replace it. Otherwise, leave it in place for the first 24 hours, and then change it once a day or as directed.

• Caring for stitches. Clean the wound daily as directed by the health care provider. First, remove the bandage. Then wash the area gently with soap and clean, running water. Use a clean, wet cotton swab to loosen and remove any blood or crust that forms. After cleaning, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment if advised. Then put on a new bandage.

• Caring for surgical tape. Keep the area dry. If it gets wet, blot it dry with a clean towel. 

• Until the stitches are removed or the tapes fall off, don't soak the cut in water. Have your child shower or take sponge baths instead of tub baths. Don’t let your child go swimming.

• Make sure your child does not scratch, rub, or pick at the area. A baby may need to wear scratch mittens.

• Watch for the signs of infection listed below. Most facial skin wounds heal without problems. But an infection sometimes occurs even with correct treatment.

• While the stitches or tape are in place, keep the wound out of prolonged direct sunlight, especially in the summer months. After the stitches are removed or the tapes fall off, continue to stay out of direct sunlight, or use a sunscreen with a high level of protection. Sunburn or sun exposure can increase scarring.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your health care provider, or as advised. If you have stitches, ask your provider about which type was used. For absorbable stitches, ask about how long it will take for the stitches to dissolve. For nonabsorbable stitches, ask how long stitches should remain in place and when to bring your child back to have the stitches removed. If surgical tape was used, you may remove it yourself when your provider recommends if it has not fallen off on its own. Surgical tape usually falls off in 7 to 10 days.

Special note to parents

Health care providers are trained to see injuries in young children as a sign of possible abuse. You may be asked questions about how your child was injured. Providers must, by law, ask you these questions. This is done to protect your child. Please try to be patient.

When to get medical advice

Contact your child's health care provider right away if:

• The wound bleeds more than a small amount or bleeding doesn't stop.

• Signs of infection occur, such as:

  • Increasing pain in the wound. Babies may show pain with crying or fussing that can't be soothed.

  • Increasing wound redness or swelling.

  • Pus or bad odor coming from the wound.

  • A fever of 100.4°F (38ºC) or higher, or as directed by your child's health care provider.

  • Chills.

• The wound edges reopen.

• Stitches come apart or fall out, or surgical tape falls off before 5 days.

• The wound changes colors.

• Numbness occurs around the wound.