After 48 hours, surgical wounds can get wet without increasing the risk of infection. After this time, you can get your stitches wet briefly with a light spray (such as in the shower), but they should not be soaked (for example, in the bath). Make sure you pat the area dry afterwards.
"In order to help prevent infection, we want stitches to stay as dry as possible until they're removed and the area is completely healed," explains Dr. Yaakovian. That's because a moist environment is essentially a breeding ground for infection-causing bacteria.
The first day: Keep your wound area dry for the first 24 hours after the doctor sewed in the stitches. You'll lower your risk of infection. Follow your doctor's instructions on when you can start cleaning the area and how to do it. Usually, you have to wait at least a day before cleaning.
Keep the area clean and dry for the first 24 to 48 hours after stitches have been placed. Then, you can start to gently wash around the site 1 to 2 times daily. Wash with cool water and soap. Clean as close to the stitches as you can.
Don't do activities that cause heavy sweating. Protect the wound from sunlight. Don't scratch, rub, or pick at the glue.
You should be able to wash normally after your stitches, dressings and clips have been removed. It's usually better to have a shower until the wound has healed to avoid soaking it completely.
It's important not to scratch your stitches; even though they're strong, scratching may damage them. You should avoid contact sports, such as football or hockey, to give your wound the best possible chance to heal. You should not go swimming until your wound has healed and your stitches have been removed.
Wounds need to be covered so that they can heal properly. When a wound is left uncovered, the new surface cells that are being created can easily dry out. When these important cells dry out, it tends to slow down the healing process. A wound should be covered using a clean bandage.
Stitches are often removed after 5 to 10 days, but this depends on where they are situated. Your doctor or nurse will advise you on the right time to remove your stitches. If the stitches are taken out too soon, the wound might not have healed properly.
In some cases the bandage can be removed after 24 to 48 hours, and the wound can then be gently washed to remove the crust. Do not scrub or soak the wound during the first 48 hours. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice: Keep the wound bandaged and dry for the first day.
Most types should start to dissolve or fall out within a week or two, although it may be a few weeks before they disappear completely. Some may last for several months. Ask your doctor about the type of stitches you have been given and how long they should take to dissolve.
Redness. The area may be swollen, sore, and red in color right after you've sustained your injury. This is normal as blood is being sent to the area to supply oxygen and other nutrients for healing. But if the wound is still red and swollen after five days, it's a sign that your body is not healing correctly.
If the laceration is on your scalp, it is OK to shampoo and wash. Be gentle and avoid excessive exposure to water. Take proper care of your wound to help reduce scarring. Call your provider if you have questions or concerns about how to care for stitches or staples at home.
You might feel sharp, shooting pains in your wound area. This may be a sign that you're getting sensations back in your nerves. The feeling should become less intense and happen less often over time, but check with your doctor if you're concerned.
Symptoms of infection include redness, swelling, warmth at the infected site, fever, pain, and swollen and tender lymph nodes. An individual with infected stitches may have: redness or red streaks around the area. tender and swollen lymph nodes closest to the location of the stitches.
All cuts will heal with a scar, however, the scar will be less noticeable if good care is given to the wound when it is healing. During the first 6 to 8 weeks after the injury, the scar will change from a thick, red raised scar to a thinner, paler, more flexible one. Scars can take up to 2 years to fully mature.
After the first 24 to 48 hours, wash around the cut with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the cut with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage. Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
You may need to cover your stitches with a bandage for 24 to 48 hours, or as directed. Do not bump or hit the suture area. This could open the wound.
Keeping stitches dry
cover your stitches when you have a shower, with a waterproof dressing – you may be able to use a rubber glove or plastic bag if they will cover your wound.
What Do You Apply to a Wound Once The Stitches Have Been Removed? Daily, wash the wound with soap and water and pat it dries gently. Contamination-prone areas (such as hands) should be cleaned more often. For 5-7 days, cover regions prone to contamination or re-injury, such as the knees, elbows, hands, or chin.
If the wound is healing it can be left without a dressing, but you may prefer to have a dressing to cover the wound for protection, especially if your clothing can rub against it. We will give you a supply of replacement dressings to use at home. Dissolving stitches usually disappear in 7-10 days.
You can do this by sleeping with 2 pillows under your head. If your skin procedure was on 1 of your arms or legs, sleep with that body part raised above the level of your heart. You can do this by resting your arm or leg on pillows.