The right aftercare helps your wound heal faster and lowers the chance of scarring or infection. Keep it clean and dry, apply antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a clean bandage. Watch for signs of infection like redness, swelling, or pus, and follow any suture care instructions your provider gives you.

Urgent care facilities are ideal for treating non-life-threatening lacerations that can’t be treated at home. Red, swollen, painful lacerations, animal bites, and puncture wounds can all be treated at an urgent care center. If you have a deep laceration that exposes bone, are squirting blood, or have a partial or complete amputation, you should visit your closest emergency room.

Healing time depends on the cause of the wound, the severity of it, and any underlying health conditions you may have. For most healthy people, a laceration should heal within two weeks, but if you have diabetes, are immunocompromised, or have circulation problems, it may take longer.

You need to care for your stitches to ensure your wound heals properly. Be sure to follow all instructions your physician gives you, which may include: Keeping the area dry and covered with a bandage for the first few days. Washing the wound with mild soap and water Pat the wound dry and apply any medications Avoid strenuous activities that may put a strain on your stitches

Pain, oozing, pus, fever, chills, redness, or inflammation around the wound or sutures are all signs of an infection. You should seek immediate medical attention to help ease your symptoms and treat the infection.

If your wound is small and barely bleeding, you can treat it at home with an antibiotic ointment and bandage. However, if you continue to bleed after applying firm pressure, have dirt in the wound, were bitten by an animal, have a puncture wound from a rusty object, or have any other concerns, you should seek medical attention. Of course, if you are experiencing profuse bleeding that won’t stop, you should call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.