Stitches, also known as sutures, hold the skin together while the wound heals. They can be dissolvable or non-dissolvable. They can sit under or on top of the skin. 

• your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to have the stitches removed (usually 5-10 days after surgery)
• dissolvable stitches dissolve on their own within 1-2 weeks
• if dissolvable stitches have not fallen away after 2 weeks, see your GP to have them trimmed 

A doctor may use a special medical glue to hold the edges of the skin together while the wound heals. If tape sits over the glue, allow it to fall off naturally. The glue can take up to 3 weeks to come off. 

A doctor may use staples instead of stitches. Your doctor or nurse will tell you when they need to be removed. 

As a wound heals your child may feel itching, sensitivity or numbness. These are normal parts of the healing process, but scratching can slow healing and damage the skin. To support healing: 

• gently pat the area or use a soft cold pack to help relieve itchiness
• keep fingernails short to reduce skin damage
• use mittens for babies and young children, particularly overnight
• distract your child if they touch or pick at the wound 

Water can loosen the dressing and slow healing. Your child should avoid baths or swimming until the doctor says it is safe. This is usually after the wound has healed and any stitches or staples have been removed. 

• keep the dressing clean, dry, and firmly attached to the skin
• use sponge bathing or quick showers instead of baths
• follow advice from your healthcare team about when you can wash your child’s hair for scalp wounds 

Limit activities that stretch the wound, as this can cause it to open and increase scarring. Avoid activities that make your child sweaty or overheated, as moisture can affect the dressing.

Removing stitches or staples usually does not hurt. Some children describe the feeling as tickling or pulling. If your child’s wound feels sensitive, you can give paracetamol and/or ibuprofen before the appointment. 

If stitches come out and the wound opens (gaping), or if it has been less than 48 hours since stitching:  

• cover the wound with band-aids or a clean dressing
• see your GP or go to the nearest emergency department immediately 

Sometimes the body reacts to stitches under the skin. This can cause redness or swelling in one small area, often where the stitch knot sits. This reaction does not mean the wound is infected. See your doctor or nurse for assessment and advice. 

If scar tissue starts to limit your child’s normal movement or activities, see a doctor or nurse for assessment and advice. 

Scalp wounds may leak clear fluid, particularly after neurosurgery. If this happens, see your GP or go to the nearest emergency department. 

• uneven redness around the wound
• yellow or green ooze
• slough
• increasing pain despite pain relief
• swelling
• warmth around the wound
• unpleasant smell
• fever 

If any of these occur, see your GP or go to the nearest emergency department.