Need Advice-New question,non urgent.
 

Hello.I've cut my arm and I'm concerned about one of my cuts.It's not bleeding anymore,but it is gaping.Do I need to maybe get stitches?

with anything that gapes more than about 1cm you may need to get stitches. Smaller cuts in places like joints, and places where its hard to keep a bandage on may need stitches because of their location.

Ok,thank you very much.

Also, if you work somewhere where it is easy for icky stuff to get in the wound stitches may be necessary.

Ok,I don't currently work tho.The cut is a little less length wise than 1cm.Not sure how to describe how deep it is.But for now I put a bandaid on it and it's not bleeding unless I pull on it.Oh and thanks again,it's appreciated.

If it's short like that, and gaping then it's more like a puncture wound, and generally those are not stitched.

Hello again.I don't want to be a bother but...my cut is now quite pussy and hurts.Does pus mean infection and if so how do I treat it?

Pus means yes its infected, i would go to your docter who will treat you with antibiotics xx

Hope your ok xxx

As it's discharging pus and it's a small wound, make sure you keep the skin/opening clean so that any pus discharging can come out and you really could do with going to a doctor as it is likely to need a course of anti-biotics to clear it up. Is it painful/swollen/hot/reddened/have red lines going up your arm from the wound/are starting to feel really ill such as nausea, dizziness, headache, lethargy, fever? If you have any the symptoms that are in bold then go and get it checked out STRAIGHT AWAY. If you haven't got the bold ones because of the pus it could do with getting looked at before it worsens and becomes more damaging. In the meantime, cover it in a dressing with some anti-bacterial cream and keep the wound VERY clean and as clear of discharge as possible so that it doesn't dry up and plug the wound.

It's just pussy and mildly painful,none of the other symptoms.I'm gonna try to follow your directions and if it's not better by monday,I'll go to the doctor.I'd go now but don't want my parents to know if possible.Anyways,thanks for the help everyone.

OK, but if you develop any of the bold symptoms that I've listed it is v important it gets looked at ASAP and I think getting it looked at on Monday if its not cleared up is a VERY good idea. Also, your parents don't have to find out. If you're over 16 doctors usually can't tell them. Under these, in most circumstances they won't but some of it depends upon how mature you are and of course how much damage you're doing to yourself and your general mood