r/woundcare Dec 19 '25

Transitioning the sub to professional discussion

107 Upvotes

There have been a lot of issues reported since the sub has transitioned to allowing wound care advice to all patients. The sub will be transitioned to a place for professional discussion. Self harm wounds are no longer allowed. I will do a trial run of allowing personal advice posts every wednesday for now. If any other physicians would like to help moderate let me know.


r/woundcare Dec 02 '25

“Does this need stitches?” A self-harm response and care guide

273 Upvotes

“Does this need stitches?” A response to the self-harm epidemic on this sub.

For those who self-harm: Please don’t post here regularly. You need to learn to manage your own risks without needing external validation from Reddit. If you are self-harming, you need to do research on proper wound care and mitigate the associated risks without needing to post everything for possibly triggerable onlookers on Reddit. This is a wound care sub, not a sub to share wounds and then not attempt care. Here is a general list of things to look for that I would recommend you save or write down or pay attention to, so that you have the ability to manage your health at home better and are less dependent on Reddit forums such as this.

Levels of wounds:

Epidermis: This is usually seen as “cat scratches.” They are shallow and usually bleed a decent bit quickly but stop just as quick. They typically scab and heal within a few days to a week. If you cut to this level, you likely do not need medical attention. Watch for signs of infection (heat, pus, red streaking from injury) and seek help if those signs come. Clean it with antibacterial soap and water, apply ointment, and keep it covered. Cutting with dirty items is more likely to lead to infection so try to keep your “tools” clean.

Dermis: This will look like a white gap. It is sometimes referred to as “styro,” for its similar appearance to styrofoam. It may take a second for blood beads to form. These will gape a bit, but often close within a day and heal within a week or two. These, because they stay open longer, are at a higher risk of infection than the epidermis. If you cut to this level, you likely do not need medical attention. Watch for signs of infection (heat, pus, red streaking from injury) and seek help if those signs come. Clean it with antibacterial soap and water, apply ointment, and keep it covered. Cutting with dirty items is more likely to lead to infection so try to keep your “tools” clean.

Hypodermis AKA fat: This will look like yellow bubbles. It is sometimes referred to as “beans.” This is the level in which infection becomes a real likelihood. Typically stitches are recommended. Some doctors may treat you without a mental health evaluation, some doctors may try and have you evaluated. For US-based injuries I recommend going straight to the ER for stitches instead of an urgent care center if you seek stitches. Urgent care centers may not stitch you up and could call police on you. They do not have the capacity to perform mental health evaluations and will want you at a hospital where you can be seen by a psychiatrist. It is not a given that this will be your experience but it is a possibility and you should be prepared for this. In the UK, some care centers and minor injury units can support with deeper wounds, however they may contact your GP for an urgent review (usually within a week). If you do not seek stitches, clean the wound with antibacterial soap. You can apply ointment. You can also use butterfly bandages to close the wound, but if there is any chance that bacteria or debris have entered the wound, do not close it. There is typically a 24 hour window to close the wounds. After that, keep it covered and clean. Watch for signs of infection (heat, pus, red streaking from injury, swelling) and immediately seek help if those signs come. An anti-stick bandage is recommended. Gauze will get stuck in this kind of wound easily. If that happens, soak in warm water to soften the blood and remove the gauze. Cutting to this level is significantly more dangerous and will likely lead to infection, which should be seen immediately. Nerve damage is possible. Cellulitis is a possibility. These wounds take significantly longer to heal. Cutting with dirty items are more likely to lead to infection so try to keep your “tools” clean.

Muscle: There is no safe way to treat this outpatient. You risk severe infection. This needs to be seen in a hospital. Death could occur if not treated.

Bone: There is no safe way to treat this outpatient. You risk severe infection. This needs to be seen in a hospital. Death could occur if not treated.

Tips to increase likelihood of a positive outcome:

-Seek behavioral health treatment. The urge to self harm, and self-harm in general, is always deserving of medical attention, no matter the depth.

-Use clean tools if you do harm. The more bacteria present on a tool, the higher the risk of infection.

-Keep your wounds covered. The more bacteria that can access your wound, the higher the risk of infection.

-Seek medical attention immediately when you experience red streaking, loss of feeling in a limb, sickness, chills, or loss of consciousness.

-Keep bandages and ointment on hand if you regularly self harm. You should use clean bandages.

You deserve to heal.

Practitioners and medical centers will handle cases of self harm differently from country to country and even city to city.

Text CONNECT to 741741 to be connected with a trained volunteer crisis counselor (US) Text SHOUT to 85258 (UK)

Call 988 for the suicide and crisis hotline (US) Call 111 for the NHS helpline (UK) Call 131114 for the suicide and crisis hotline (AUS)

Other resources: Suicide Hotlines for All Countries

For onlookers:

I understand the annoyance you may feel at seeing so many posts recently flood this sub asking “is this infected? Does this need stitches?” in regards to self harm. I want to offer a different view of it, if I may.

Firstly, I must acknowledge that there is a certain level of attention-seeking that comes along with a lot of self harm. Especially among younger individuals who may be new to it and who may crave some sort of external validation of “I see your pain, you are okay, please get help.” Is that appropriate for this sub? No, not really, but there’s usually some level of true fear of how to tend to a wound even with the attention seeking behavior.

Unfortunately, subs like this are one of the few places where wounds can be posted. There are no SH subs for fresh wounds (for good reason) and so there isn’t a place to get advice from other sufferers. There is no place to ask “have you cut this deep? How did it heal? Did you get stitches? How did getting stitches go?” And they are wounds. Even if they look so shallow you think, “of course that isn’t infected! Of course it isn’t in need of stitches,” or so deep you feel sick to see a photo, they are wounds, and sometimes people who post are truly at a heightened state of fear. Fear that they’ve gone too deep, fear that they can’t stop. This may not be the sub to lament over cutting in, but there is a lack of real-life access to wound care for self harm. Even if you think that it’s obviously a cry for attention, and even if it is a cry for attention, there are still wounds involved that would likely not be being seen otherwise.

In my experience, I have needed stitches from self harm multiple times. I have had doctors who tended to gouges without judgement, and also had doctors try to say that I was suicidal and call the police on me. It is a total toss up, especially with very deep wounds. It is often not as easy as just getting help. The times I’ve gone “too deep,” ie too deep to leave open safely, I have genuinely been afraid at what options were before me. It isn’t as easy as seeing a doctor or going to urgent care for stitches. I’ve cut too deep, disclosed to a therapist that I’m not suicidal but in need of medical attention, had my therapist on the phone with an urgent care physician to tell them that I wasn’t suicidal, and still had the police called on me. You can take all the “right” steps after self harm and still wind up screwed when trying to remedy a mistake.

This sub I believe is genuinely helpful for people who cannot always access true wound care in a medical setting. I’ve seen some amazing advice given for wounds that needed to but couldn’t be seen by a doctor. Something that’s a mere annoyance to you may be saving someone else from severe infection or commitment. Please take this into consideration.


r/woundcare 7h ago

Chest, from cystic acne

Post image
27 Upvotes

I had cystic acne that burst and then got infected, I was on antibiotics for awhile, I think the infection has cleared? My doctor is prescribing me more antibiotic cream, I've had these wounds since the endish of June, how long do you think it will take to heal? I was thinking about taking 500mcg of TB500 daily for 6 weeks to hopefully speed it up.


r/woundcare 5h ago

Any tips?

Post image
3 Upvotes

After a flap surgery, my sister has a nasty scab from where one of her stitches kept bleeding. She had several heparin shots while in the ICU and is currently on aspirin so that likely contributed to this spot's inability to clot. A scab finally formed a few days ago but then when she visited her surgeon for a post-op follow up, the nurse scrubbed at all of her bloody stitches and tore this one back open. With the way the scar is healing inward, we're worried it's going to look like a huge lump on her face.

Currently I'm keeping the wound moist by applying vaseline most of the time, and bacitracin at night, then putting a nonstick bandage over it and taping it on her face. The bleeding has stopped but whenever I gently pat the scab with a wet paper towel, it does come away with reddish brown residue.

I'm not sure if I'm doing everything I can. At what point should I stop bandaging it? Has anyone seen this type of scab and has advice on how to heal it? I'm already planning on ordering vitamin E oil for when it seems fully closed.


r/woundcare 3h ago

KT tape incident

Thumbnail gallery
2 Upvotes

I had KT tape on for maybe an hour, took it off because it felt weird, and this happened. I have no idea what it even is and why, but looks like some blood under the skin?


r/woundcare 2h ago

The Wound that won't heal...

Post image
1 Upvotes

Background information
- Got wound in 2018 from wearing a surgical boot
-Developed lymphedema in same leg after surgery to repair fractured tibia
-Wound healed after being in hospital for something different but fragile skin opened wound back up again
-Lengthy medical history to include lyme disease, POTS, MCAS, chronic Venous Insufficiency, lymphedema and much more
-Need fresh approach to healing, please help me.....


r/woundcare 8h ago

Infected?

1 Upvotes

Got a gnarly burn from sliding in softball does this look infected? 2 days old


r/woundcare 1d ago

Infection or slough???

Thumbnail gallery
7 Upvotes

My husband got into an accident 9 days ago the hospital left his wound open to breathe but when he came home I noticed the yellow stuff on it and when he pats it yellow comes off in the paper towel. No fever or spreading redness but it doesn’t look right to me.


r/woundcare 1d ago

4 wpo breast reduction + lift

Thumbnail gallery
2 Upvotes

Surgery: 7/30/2026 breast reduction + lift. I saw my surgeon, 8/29/2026, he did some debridement and said to keep clean, change dressing once a day, shower daily and wash with antibacterial soap & wound wash. He said he could see new skin growth and that is does not appear infected, however, he put me on a round of antibiotics for caution.

I shower, then pat dry, then use the wound wash and air dry, then I put dressing on. I have to soak the dressing to be able to get it off. I have read several other posts about using medi-honey and bandages. Hoping for some insight from wound care professional if possible, on how long this should take to heal and any tips? TIA :)


r/woundcare 1d ago

Healthcare advice Stitches 10 day old

Thumbnail gallery
2 Upvotes

These stitches are 10 days old, they look a little red to me for 10 days, are they healing OK?


r/woundcare 2d ago

High tension area, stitches are scheduled to come out tomorrow. Does it look ready?

Thumbnail gallery
3 Upvotes

The first picture is 48 hours after my mole was removed and I was instructed to remove the bandage. The second picture is from Today. I am scheduled to have the stitches removed tomorrow (day 14). This is on the inside of my right ankle. I was instructed to stay propped as much as possible. I stayed propped as much as I could and also used crutches. I have been walking regularly for the last few days. Does it look ready to have the stitches taken out? I am still getting a tiny bit of pink transferring to my bandage when I remove it. I have 2 other sites that are not in high tension areas and they look great. This one seems like its not shut yet. Looking for any advice. TIA


r/woundcare 2d ago

The cover they gave me came off several days early, is this how it should heal? Original wound+current photo

Thumbnail gallery
3 Upvotes

r/woundcare 2d ago

Healthcare advice best way to keep knee abrasion covered with an adhesive allergy?

Thumbnail gallery
4 Upvotes

scraped my knee after running on wednesday pretty badly. been keeping it covered with vaseline, anti-stick bandage, and then a large absorptive square bandage over top to catch the leakage. that part seems to be doing fine, but i’m securing all that with bandage tape straight to the skin, because normal bandages aren’t big enough and don’t stay secure because of the location. well, i’ve figured out i’m probably allergic to adhesive. my skin has blistered some where the tape sits, and is bumpy and itchy when i take it off. the tape i’m using doesn’t have latex.

any other good creative ways to secure the bandage? i can tough it out but it’s a bit annoying pulling it off each time, and having to limp around because of it pulling at my skin. should i try hydrocolloid bandages?

pic 1 is today and pic 2 and 3 are wednesday


r/woundcare 2d ago

Healthcare advice Help

Post image
1 Upvotes

r/woundcare 3d ago

Is this healing?

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

I had an abrasion on my ankle that initially didn't look like a big deal, 48 hours later a ton of swelling. Antibiotics, swelling went down. It's now been 1 week and the swelling is essentially gone, but the wound itself doesn't look like it's healing?

Photos:

4 hours after

48 hours

72 hours

1 week


r/woundcare 3d ago

Why isn’t it getting better already after two weeks? It’s still really dark red

Post image
1 Upvotes

r/woundcare 4d ago

Healthcare advice Post Surgery Incision Not Healing After 4 Months

Post image
2 Upvotes

Im 32, 5' 5", female, 135lbs. I got a laparoscopic surgery at the end of April and after trying many things, one incision still has this tiny hole that has not closed. This is located at the bottom left of my abdomen right above where pants sit on your abdomen. The whole scar is about an inch long, the tiny hole that won't heal is about the size of the tip of a pen.

I have tried Neosporin per the doctor's recommendation which made the entire area breakout. I then tried putting Vaseline on it per a nurse's recommendation saying it needed to be consistently wet for it to heal properly. I have tried waterproof bandages, gauze and tape, not putting anything on it and none of it has worked.

I tried hydrocortisone cream which helped the itching when it was more inflamed. I tried aquaphor which it didnt like and that was 2 months ago.

Most of the time I have put Vaseline on it which seems to help calm it down and it's when it looks it's best but it's never healed. I have tried letting it breathe and dry out but it forms a sort of white thing in it like filling the hole which then gets irritated and the hole gets bigger when I wash it. When I shower I wash it with antibacterial soap and then put Vaseline on it after and a Band-Aid just so that it doesn't rub up against anything especially at bed time.

It has been over a hundred degrees for so long now and I've been sweating a lot and this is at the bottom of my abdomen so it's constantly moving and constantly getting sweat on it and irritated. I have reached out to my surgeon, my general practitioner, a nurse friend, and none of them seem to be helping or concerned even though its been 4 months. I went back into the surgeon's office who said he thought he pulled out a teeny tiny suture that didn't dissolve and I thought that was the end of it but that was a month ago.

The hole seems to be a tiny bit smaller but it's been the same issue. I keep getting more defeated by this I haven't been able to take baths or go swimming all summer. My skin around it continues to get irritated and discolored by all the bandages or tape to hold gauze in place. I make sure to let it somewhat breathe during the day having a Band-Aid on it that isn't closed on the sides. But I have tried both ways the waterproof and more open ones but regardless nothing has helped. I used to be more itchy that seems to have calmed down. Each time I take off the Band-Aid there's always a tiny little yellow mark on the Band-Aid pad like it seeped out some. There's no bleeding there's no pus there's no smell it's not hot.

I don't know what to do at this point and I'm hoping that maybe someone has some input please.


r/woundcare 4d ago

Wasp sting on side of foot

1 Upvotes

My whole foot is swollen to the size of a balloon, I cant bend my toes, and my extensor tendon hurts when I move it, I can barely walk. The swelling hasn’t gone down after 48 hours, and it’s hot to the touch!!! EVEN ICE BARLEY HELPS AND ELEVATION DOES JACK ALL! HELP MEEE!


r/woundcare 4d ago

Shin Crater

Post image
1 Upvotes

I am looking for the best way to dress and heal this shin crater. It was cause by a scab getting ripped off. Its approx 6mm across and 3mm deep and slowly pools dark red blood in it. It is directly on the shin bone an essentially a perfect hole.


r/woundcare 5d ago

Did I cut the tendon?

Thumbnail gallery
29 Upvotes

I cut myself at work with a box cutter about a week and a half ago. I needed to get 3 stitches. First pic is when I was at the ER. I finally got my stitches out yesterday and noticed I can’t straighten my thumb at all. Refer to 2nd pic. It’s not painful. Y’all think I cut the tendon?