The cut is deep enough that you can see fat, muscle, tendon, or bone
The wound edges are gaping open and do not stay closed
The cut is longer than about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch and looks deep
Bleeding does not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm direct pressure
The wound is on the face, eyelid, lip, ear, hand, foot, or over a joint
The cut is caused by a dirty, rusty, or contaminated object
The wound has jagged or uneven edges
The cut goes through all layers of the skin
You cannot move the area normally or there may be tendon or nerve injury
There is numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling near the wound
The wound was caused by an animal or human bite
There is a puncture wound that is deep or wide
The injury is from glass, metal, or another object that may still be inside
The wound is on the scalp and is deep or the bleeding is heavy
The cut is on a part of the body that pulls apart when you move
You are not up to date on tetanus shots and the wound is dirty or deep
The wound shows signs of infection such as increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or fever
The wound is very painful or the pain is getting worse
The wound happened more than 6 to 8 hours ago and is still open
You are unsure whether the wound needs stitches and it looks serious