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Your preschooler face-planted on the playground and split her lip. Between the wailing (hers), the blood (also hers) and the tears (possibly both of yours), it’s … a lot.
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What’s your next move? Pediatrician Ei Ye Mon, MD, explains how to treat this common kid injury.
Injuries to the mouth often look worse than they are, Dr. Ye Mon says. “This area has a lot of blood vessels, so even a small cut can look like a lot of blood.” But there’s a silver lining, she adds: “Because it has so many blood vessels, cuts around the mouth also tend to heal quickly.”
Dr. Ye Mon says to follow these steps to kick-start the healing process.
Most split lips aren’t emergencies. “It can be scary, but most of the time they heal on their own without stitches,” Dr. Ye Mon says.
But sometimes, hugs and ice pops aren’t enough. More serious cuts may need dissolvable stitches or skin adhesive to help with healing and reduce scarring, she notes. See a doctor for a cut on the lip if:
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Unfortunately, you can’t boo-boo-proof your kids. But with a little TLC, that busted lip will be smiling again in no time.
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