After pus is drained from an abscess, the cavity is cleaned and often left open or packed with gauze to allow it to heal from the inside out, preventing infection and encouraging new tissue growth, with follow-up care involving dressing changes, warm soaks, potential antibiotics, and monitoring for complications like fever or recurrence. The wound typically heals over weeks, leaving a scar, and proper aftercare, including keeping the area clean and moist (but not wet), is crucial for recovery.
Once the pus has been removed, the cavity needs to heal upwards from the inside out, so the opening in your skin is left open. If the cavity is deep, your surgeon will place a pack (antiseptic dressing) in it to keep it open, allowing pus to drain out and your wound to heal properly.
What happens after abscess drainage? A slight fever is normal for the first 24 hours after the procedure. The catheter and drainage bag will likely remain in place for several days. Follow any instructions you are given for caring for the catheter and drainage site.
How long does incision and drainage take to heal? After an abscess has been treated it can typically take about 2-3 weeks to completely heal, but most people can return to normal activities after a few days.
Keep the area clean and protected from further injury. Gentle heat will increase blood flow, and speed healing. A warm, wet towel applied for 20 minutes several times a day is enough. Be careful not to burn yourself.
Pus is usually a sign of an infection. Infections can cause wounds that grow and damage more and more surrounding tissue. Larger wounds can take longer to heal and may scar.
A scar forms and the wound becomes stronger. As healing continues, you may notice that the area itches. After the scab falls off, the area may look stretched, red, and shiny. The scar that forms will be smaller than the original wound.
Swelling Goes Down: Swelling in the face or gums gradually decreases as the infection clears. The affected area should return to its normal size. Drainage Stops or Lessens: If the abscess was draining pus, this drainage should reduce and eventually stop as healing progresses.
If your abscess was opened with an Incision and Drainage: Keep the abscess covered 24 hours a day, removing bandages once daily to wash with warm soap and water. If the abscess was packed (with a cotton wick), leave it in until instructed by your clinician to remove the packing or return for re-evaluation.
Untreated infections can spread to surrounding tissues in your body. This can cause serious complications including sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis, which can lead to death. The outlook for internal abscesses depends on the location and treatment.
Avoid strenuous activity for the next eight hours in order to prevent excess bleeding. 3. Your wound may continue to drain a large amount over the next several days as the infection slowly heals. You may apply gauze dressing to the wound to protect your clothing.
Once located, the abscess is typically drained with an aspiration needle but, because it is likely to refill, surgery, which is performed under general anesthesia, is usually also necessary. In either case, abscess drainage requires a complete elimination of the infected material.
When should you call for help?
When an area of your body becomes infected, your body's immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms. Pus is a mixture of living and dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue.
Wet to Dry Dressings:
Three times a day remove bandages and clean the wound. You may shower at this time. Gently clean out all loose debris with a Q-tip or washcloth. If your wound is not draining much, moisten a piece of gauze with saline, and gently place gauze into the deepest part of the wound.
Risks may include infection or bleeding, and while rare, it's possible for nearby organs to be damaged. Your care team will speak with you about the risks of the procedure and the steps they will take to minimize these complications.
You rarely need antibiotics after a procedure to drain an abscess, unless there is a large amount of infection around it.
The wound healing process can be divided into four separate stages: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and maturation. Each of these phases is defined by its vital chemical processes, which work to maintain the individual's well-being by regenerating their damaged cells.
Yes, unless you have sutures (stitches), staples, exposed bone, or your doctor has advised against it. Make sure you ask before you shower or bathe. If you need to keep your wound dry, use a garbage bag or some sort of plastic cover to keep it dry when you shower. Typically, you should not be "soaking" your wound.
Contraindications to Incising and Draining an Abscess
Abscesses close to major neurovascular structures (eg, the axilla, antecubital fossa, posterior knee, groin area, neck) Abscesses that are difficult to adequately expose or explore because of location (eg, perirectal abscess)
An abscess forms when your immune system walls off an infection, usually bacterial (like Staph), creating a pocket filled with pus (bacteria, white blood cells, dead tissue) that can't drain, often entering through cuts, follicles, or blocked glands. While bacteria are the main culprit, fungi, parasites, or blocked ducts can also cause them, leading to painful, swollen, red lumps, and sometimes deeper internal abscesses from surgery or existing conditions.
Treatment. You can apply moist heat (such as warm compresses) to help the abscess drain and heal faster. Do not push and squeeze on the abscess. Your provider may cut open the abscess and drain it.
As healing begins, you may notice a healthier pink or light red tone. These colors often reflect improved blood flow and the growth of new tissue. This is often the stage when patients ask what does a healing wound look like, because the wound finally begins to appear less alarming than when it first occurred.
The 4 C's of wound care, Cleanse, Control, Cover, and Check, are essential steps for promoting healing and preventing complications.
Yellow or green pus can be a sign of a bacterial infection. Pink or red pus means there's blood mixed in. Brown pus is rare, but it could point to a more serious problem, like a liver infection.