Skin tape provides additional wound support. Some people have 1 large ... Keep the wound clean and dry for the first 72 hours. After the wound has been stitched up the nurse may cover the wound with a dressing made of gauze and tape. After surgery, you may have 1 or more incisions. It's best to avoid movement that affects the area surrounding your wound. What is hydrocolloid dressing used for and how to use it? Get familiar with some simple rules for taking care of your healing wound. If you get an infection, you’ll usually be treated with a course of antibiotics. Sometimes metal clips or staples are used to keep the skin edges together. There is very little care that needs to be given to your surgical wound. Make sure you watch for symptoms like increased drainage, purulent drainage, fever and intensifying pain, all of which could indicate wound infection. The scar should take about 6 months to fade. However, the exact origins of the ‘let the wound air out’ belief isn’t certain. After you shower, gently pat the area dry with a clean towel. Keep the site clean and dry by washing it 1 to 2 times a day. Remove the dressing before bathing unless told otherwise. Your doctor will give you exact instructions on when and how to change it. This gives enough time for most minor wounds to heal fully. advice you receive on your discharge. Your email address will not be published. They may want to see you in the surgery to take a sample of any discharge from an infected cut with a stick which looks like a large cotton bud. If you apply pressure directly to the cut for a few minutes, it will usually put an end to the bleeding. You can clean the skin around the cut with a soft cloth or gauze pad. Lotions and skin softeners can also soften scars. This is appropriate if the wound is extremely small or in a location where a scar is cosmetically acceptable. Maturation (strengthening) Even after your wound looks closed and repaired, it’s still healing. Keep covered with a hat or clothing as much as you can. A: Airing out most wounds isn’t beneficial because wounds need moisture to heal. Once your skin cancer has been removed through Mohs surgery, there will be an open wound. Leaving a wound uncovered may dry out new surface cells, … Do not rub or scrub the wound. Keeping the surgical site dry for at least one day after surgery is important in order to reduce the risk of infection. Soaking the wound could cause it to reopen or become infected. However, leave an already infected wound open until the infection clears. Call your doctor if it doesn't stop right away. Don't use skin cleansers, antibacterial soaps, alcohol, iodine, or peroxide. One source of the myth might be the intent to keep the wound clean. You will want to prevent a crust from forming or being pulled off. Fluid from the wound may build under the strips if you completely cover it. To help the injured skin heal, use petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist. Most surgical wounds will heal without causing any problems, but it’s possible that your wound may become infected after surgery. Uncovering your wound when it is partially healed risks scabbing and re-injury, both of which may delay healing and increase scarring. If you think a cut from an operation (a surgical wound) is infected, you should speak to the nurse or doctor at your surgery as soon as possible. You can ask your surgeon how likely this after your operation, and what to look out for. 3 Do not pinch the skin as this may open wound. That's because soaking your wound can soften it and may cause it to open up again. What are the different types of wound care dressing? By covering a wound, you contain the natural moisture that’s needed to keep the skin cells alive. Should Steri strips be covered? The glue usually peels off in 5 to 7 days. They can damage the skin in the wound and delay healing. ", Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals -- NHS Trust: "Caring for surgical wounds at home.". 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