Wash your hands with soap and water.
Gather: clean scissors or stitch removal snips, tweezers (optional), a clean towel or gauze, and antiseptic or mild soap and water.
Clean the area gently with soap and water; pat dry.
Check the type of stitches:
If you have dissolvable stitches, do not remove unless a clinician told you to.
If you have non-dissolvable stitches, remove only when your clinician has approved timing.
Look for the stitch knots on the outside of the skin (or the ends if they’re looped).
Use tweezers to lift one stitch end slightly.
Cut the stitch close to the skin (do not cut the skin).
Pull the freed stitch straight out gently.
Repeat for each stitch, one at a time.
If a stitch resists, stop and leave it in place—do not force it.
After removal, clean the area again and pat dry.
Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or as directed by your clinician (optional).
Cover with sterile gauze or a bandage if the wound is still rubbing or oozing.
Watch for signs you need medical care: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, worsening pain, pus or bad-smelling drainage, fever, wound opening, or bleeding that won’t stop.