When should you get stitches?

If the wound is deep enough to expose yellow, fatty tissue, it probably needs stitches, warns About.com. If the wound refuses to close or stop bleeding, it needs stitches.

Wounds in locations that experience a great deal of movement, such as the elbow or knee, often need stitches to prevent them from opening with further movement or activity, says KidsHealth. When in doubt, doctors recommend having the wound evaluated by a medical professional. This is especially true if the wound is in a visible spot, such as the face or neck. Puncture wounds are usually not stitched, says WebMD, to avoid sealing in infection-causing bacteria.