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Updated visitor guidelines. Top of the page. Taking Care of Your Stitches or Staples. Topic Overview Your wound will need care and observation. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice: Keep the wound bandaged and dry for the first day.
After the first day, wash around the wound with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the wound with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage. Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed. Most of the time, stitches are removed: From the face in 4 to 5 days. Then: Prepare supplies by opening the gauze packages and cutting new tape strips.
Wash and dry your hands. Put on medical gloves. Loosen the tape around the old dressing. Remove the old dressing. Clean the incision if your doctor told you to do so.
See instructions below. Inspect the incision for signs of infection. Hold a clean, sterile gauze pad by the corner and place over the incision. Tape all four sides of the gauze pad. Put all trash in a plastic bag. Remove your gloves last. Seal plastic bag and throw it away. Wash your hands.
Cleaning an incision To clean the incision: Gently wash it with soap and water to remove the crust. Do not scrub or soak the wound. Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine, which can harm the tissue and slow wound healing.
Air-dry the incision or pat it dry with a clean, fresh towel before reapplying the dressing. Caring for stitches, staples, tissue glue, or adhesive strips Stitches or staples normally cause some redness and swelling where the stitch enters the skin, along with mild irritation and itching. Other incision care tips After some surgeries, you may be given special instructions other than these for taking care of the incision.
Related Information Surgery: What to Expect. Incision care. In B Narins, ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. Credits Current as of: May 27, Top of the page Next Section: Related Information. Previous Section: References Top of the page. After 48 hours, surgical wounds can get wet without increasing the risk of infection. Make sure you pat the area dry afterwards. Dressings If you have a dressing over your stitches, avoid getting it wet. Do not remove the dressing unless you're advised to do so by a healthcare professional.
Keeping stitches dry If you have been advised to keep your stitches dry, you could: 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 have a wash standing in a bath tub, using a cloth to clean yourself and avoiding your stitches Dab your stitches dry with a clean towel after washing, even if the wound area did not get wet, to ensure the area is completely dry.
Further information How long will my stitches take to dissolve? How should I care for my stitches? Scars Page last reviewed: 6 March Next review due: 6 March
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