Caring for staples in your head mostly comes down to keeping the wound clean, dry for the first day or two, and free from anything that could snag or pull the staples loose. Scalp wounds tend to heal well because the scalp has a rich blood supply, but staples still require some attention to avoid infection or premature loosening. The good news is that the daily routine is straightforward once you know what to do and what to avoid.
Why the Scalp Gets Staples Instead of Stitches
If you showed up to the emergency room with a gash on your head, you might have expected traditional stitches. Staples are the standard for most scalp lacerations because they are faster to place and less painful during the procedure itself. A randomized trial comparing the two methods in scalp wounds found no difference in infection rates or complications, but stapling was significantly quicker and caused less discomfort during closure.1PubMed. Staples versus sutures in the closure of scalp wounds: a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial In children, research has shown similar results: stapled and sutured scalp wounds healed with comparable strength and appearance, and stapled wounds actually showed a lower inflammatory response and shorter closure times.2The Journal of Pediatrics. Comparison of skin stapling devices and standard sutures for pediatric scalp lacerations: A randomized study of cost and time benefits Speed matters in emergency settings, but it also means less time under a painful procedure for you.
The staples themselves are typically made of stainless steel. They work by pressing the wound edges together from above, holding them in alignment while new tissue bridges the gap underneath. Because hair covers most scalp wounds, the cosmetic stakes are lower than they would be on, say, your face, which is another reason staples are preferred here over finer suturing techniques.
The First 24 to 48 Hours
The initial period after getting staples is the most important for setting up a clean healing environment. Your doctor or nurse will usually place a bandage or gauze pad over the wound before you leave. Here is what to do during those first couple of days:
- Leave the bandage on: Keep the original dressing in place for at least 24 hours unless your doctor says otherwise. It protects the fresh wound from bacteria and absorbs any initial oozing.
- Keep it dry: Avoid getting the wound wet for the first 24 to 48 hours. That means no showers where water hits the staples directly, no swimming, and no submerging your head.
- Skip the gym: Vigorous exercise raises blood pressure and can cause the wound to bleed again. Take it easy for at least a day or two.
- Watch for soaking through: If the bandage becomes saturated with blood, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth. Some oozing is normal, but steady bleeding that does not slow down after 10 to 15 minutes of pressure warrants a call to your doctor or a return trip to urgent care.
Most people feel some tenderness, mild swelling, and maybe a dull headache around the wound site. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen are usually fine. Aspirin and ibuprofen can thin the blood and promote bleeding, so check with whoever placed the staples before reaching for those.
Cleaning the Wound After the First Day
Once that initial 24-to-48-hour window has passed and you have removed the original bandage, you need to start gently cleaning the area. The goal is simple: remove any dried blood or crusting without disturbing the staples or irritating the surrounding skin.
Use lukewarm water and a mild soap. You do not need anything antibacterial or medicated; plain soap works. Let water run over the wound gently rather than scrubbing at it. Some people find it easiest to clean the area during a shower by letting water cascade over the staples. Avoid aiming a high-pressure showerhead directly at them. Pat the area dry afterward with a clean towel or gauze. Do not rub.
You will likely notice dried blood crusting around the base of each staple. Resist the urge to pick at it. If crusts are thick and bothersome, dampen a piece of gauze with clean water and hold it against the area for a minute or two to soften the crust, then gently dab it away. Cleaning once or twice a day is enough. More frequent cleaning can irritate the wound without providing extra benefit.
What to Put on the Wound
There is a widespread belief that wounds heal best when left open to “air out.” For scalp staples, a thin layer of petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment over and around the staple line is generally a better approach. The ointment keeps the wound moist, which supports cell migration and reduces scab formation. In surgical settings where bone may be exposed through a scalp wound, clinicians apply antibiotic or petroleum-based ointment generously to prevent the tissue from drying out and developing complications.3British Journal of Dermatology. DS12 The scalp staple sandwich: a surgical pearl for secondary intention scalp wounds Your wound probably is not that deep, but the principle holds: keeping it moist is better than letting it dry into a hard crust.
After applying a thin layer of ointment, you can cover the wound with a fresh piece of gauze or a non-stick bandage if it is in a spot where clothing, a hat, or a pillow will press against it. If the wound is in an area that is not likely to get rubbed or bumped, leaving it uncovered after the first day or two is also fine. Use your judgment based on your daily activities.
Avoid hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol. Both can damage healthy tissue at the wound margins and actually slow healing. They sting, too, which is reason enough to skip them.
Everyday Activities with Staples In
Living with staples in your head for a week or two requires some adjustments, but most people can return to normal routines within a day or two of the injury.
Sleeping can feel awkward if the staples are on the back or side of your head. Try sleeping on the opposite side, or use a travel pillow to keep pressure off the wound. A clean pillowcase is worth changing more frequently than usual, since dried blood and ointment will transfer to it. Some people put a clean towel over the pillow for easy swapping.
Hair care is a common concern. You can wash your hair gently once the wound has been dry for 24 to 48 hours. Use your fingertips rather than fingernails, and work around the stapled area carefully. Avoid pulling a brush or comb through the staples. If you have long hair, you can wash and condition the rest of your hair normally and just be careful near the wound. Skip hair dryers on the hot setting near the staples; the heat can be uncomfortable and may dry out the wound.
Hats and helmets are fine to wear if they do not press directly on the wound or catch on the staples. A loose-fitting hat can actually help protect the area. Tight headbands, hard hats, or snug baseball caps pressing right on the staple line should be avoided until removal.
Exercise can resume gradually after a couple of days for most people, but anything that involves straining, heavy lifting, or a risk of head contact should wait. Contact sports are off the table until the staples are out and the wound has had a few more days to strengthen.
Recognizing Signs of Trouble
Scalp wound infections are not especially common, partly because the scalp’s blood supply delivers immune cells to the area efficiently. But infections do happen, and catching one early makes a big difference. Watch for these warning signs:
- Increasing redness: Some redness right around the staples is normal. Redness that spreads outward from the wound, especially in streaks, is not.
- Pus or foul-smelling discharge: Clear or slightly yellowish fluid is part of normal healing. Thick, cloudy, green, or bad-smelling drainage suggests infection.
- Growing pain: Pain should improve a little each day. If it gets worse after the first 48 hours, or if you develop a throbbing sensation, something may be wrong.
- Fever: A temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) in the days after getting staples warrants a call to your doctor.
- Wound opening up: If you notice the wound edges pulling apart between or around the staples, that is dehiscence, and it needs medical attention. This can happen if a staple gets snagged or if swelling puts tension on the closure.
Another issue to be aware of, though it is uncommon, is an allergic reaction to the metal in the staples. Surgical staples typically contain nickel and other metals. A case report documented a patient who developed a previously unknown hypersensitivity to nickel and zirconium, metals found in surgical clips, after a procedure.4PubMed Central. Mixed Metal Allergy Ancillary to Surgical Staples If you have a known nickel allergy (the kind that flares up from cheap jewelry, belt buckles, or watch backs), mention it before staples are placed. If you develop unusual itching, a rash extending beyond the wound, or blistering around the staples after the fact, contact your doctor. Metal allergies from staples are rare, but they can mimic or worsen what looks like a wound infection.
MRI Scans with Staples in Place
If you need an MRI while your staples are still in, the question of whether the metal will cause problems is a natural worry. An experimental study specifically tested what happens to stainless steel surgical staples during a standard MRI scan and found no increase in skin surface temperature and no displacement of the staples from their position.5PubMed. The effects of magnetic resonance imaging on surgical staples: an experimental analysis Based on that finding, MRI scanning with stainless steel staples in place appears safe. That said, always tell the MRI technician about your staples beforehand. They will want to know exactly what type of metal is present. If your staples are documented as standard stainless steel (and the vast majority are), you should be cleared without issue. The staples can cause some image distortion in the area immediately around them, which may make it harder to read the scan in that specific region, but they are not a danger to you.
When Do the Staples Come Out
Scalp staples are typically removed between 7 and 14 days after placement, depending on the size and location of the wound and how well it is healing. Your doctor will give you a specific timeline. Staples left in too long can become embedded as skin grows around them, making removal harder and increasing the risk of scarring. Do not skip or significantly delay your removal appointment.
The removal process itself is quick. A special staple remover tool bends the staple in the middle, causing the two prongs to release from the skin. It feels like a brief pinch for each staple. Most people describe it as uncomfortable but tolerable, and the whole thing is over in minutes. Interestingly, one study using skin simulation found that removing staples actually takes about 55% longer than removing sutures, partly because of the mechanics of the remover tool.6PubMed Central. Removal of skin staples in an emergency In practice, though, scalp wounds usually have only a handful of staples, so the difference amounts to an extra minute or two at most.
If you are anxious about the removal, take a dose of acetaminophen about 30 minutes beforehand. Some people also find it helpful to bring headphones and listen to music during the procedure. The anticipation is genuinely worse than the actual sensation for most people.
Home Removal for Children’s Staples
An interesting development in pediatric care is the option for parents to remove their child’s scalp staples at home, avoiding a stressful return trip to the clinic. A study of 30 caregivers trained in home staple removal found that 93% were able to completely remove their child’s staples at home. Every caregiver who completed a follow-up survey said they would prefer home removal over a clinic visit if the situation arose again, and all reported they would feel very comfortable doing it a second time.7PubMed Central. Scalp Staples Placed in a Pediatric Emergency Department: Feasibility and Benefits of Home Removal
This is not standard practice everywhere, and it requires proper training and a staple removal tool provided by the hospital. Do not attempt home removal with pliers, nail clippers, or any improvised tool. The dedicated staple remover is specifically designed to bend the staple so the prongs release cleanly. Using anything else risks tearing the skin, leaving a prong behind, or causing unnecessary pain. If your child’s doctor offers a home removal kit and walks you through the technique, it is a reasonable option. Otherwise, keep the clinic appointment.
After the Staples Are Out
Once the staples are removed, the wound is not fully healed yet. The skin has closed, but the tissue underneath is still rebuilding strength. For the first week or two after removal, treat the area gently. Continue cleaning it daily and applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Avoid activities with a high risk of re-injuring the same spot.
You may notice a line of small dots along where each staple entered the skin. These “staple marks” usually fade over several months. Scalp wounds have an advantage here because hair regrowth will cover most scarring. If the wound was in a spot where hair does not grow, or if you keep your head shaved, the scar may be more visible. Silicone-based scar sheets or gels, applied once the wound is fully closed and there are no scabs remaining, can help minimize scar appearance over time.
Hair may take a little while to grow back directly through the scar line, and in some cases a thin strip of hair loss along the scar is permanent. This depends on whether the hair follicles in that strip were destroyed by the original injury. For most small lacerations, hair grows back normally and the scar becomes essentially invisible within a few months.
Things People Commonly Get Wrong
A few misconceptions about scalp staple care come up repeatedly. One is the idea that you should not get staples wet at all until they come out. The first day or two of keeping them dry matters, but after that, gentle washing is not only safe but necessary to prevent buildup of blood and bacteria. Another common mistake is dousing the wound in hydrogen peroxide at every cleaning. Peroxide kills bacteria, but it also kills the new cells trying to repair the wound. Plain soap and water are better.
Some people worry that staples will set off metal detectors at airports. Standard surgical staples are too small to trigger walk-through detectors. You might get a secondary screening if you happen to have a large number of staples and a very sensitive handheld wand is passed right over them, but in practice this is not something most people experience.
Finally, there is a persistent belief that scalp wounds need antibiotics. For a clean laceration closed with staples, routine oral antibiotics are generally not prescribed. The scalp’s blood supply is robust enough that infection rates are low with proper wound care alone. Antibiotics are reserved for wounds that are heavily contaminated, show signs of infection, or occur in people whose immune systems are compromised. If your doctor did not prescribe antibiotics, that is usually a sign that your wound is low-risk, not that something was overlooked.