Topic Overview After surgery, you will need to take care of the incision as it heals. Tips for reducing the risk of infection To reduce the risk of infection: Ask your doctor how long you need to keep the area dry.
Follow your doctor's instructions exactly. Look at the incision every day, checking for signs of infection see below. Change the dressing as your doctor recommends. Do not : Scrub or rub incisions. Remove the tape strips such as Steri-Strips from incisions unless your doctor tells you to. Use lotion or powder on incisions. Expose incisions to sunlight.
Take a bath unless you can keep the incision dry. Instead, take showers or sponge baths until your doctor says it's okay to take baths. Before you shower, cover the dressing with a plastic bag or use another method of keeping it dry.
Signs of infection Call your doctor if you notice signs of an infection, such as: A yellow or green discharge that is increasing. A change in the odor of the discharge. A change in the size of the incision. Redness or hardening of the surrounding area.
The incision is hot to the touch. Increasing or unusual pain. Excessive bleeding that has soaked through the dressing. Changing a dressing Before you start, make sure you have gauze pads, a box of medical gloves, surgical tape, a plastic bag, and scissors. 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. Gabica MD - Family Medicine. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Skip Navigation. 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.
The next stage of wound healing is where the real pain and itching begin. In this phase , inflammatory cells rush to the wound site to help clean the base of the wound and prepare for new cells.
Some of these cells, called histamines, help open the vessels around the wound for immune cells to begin cleanup. Unfortunately, histamines are also a primary chemical cause of itching.
An infected wound will create additional itching, as inflammatory and immune cells work overtime to fight bacteria.
In some unfortunate cases, wounds stop healing properly and become stuck in this phase. Itching is a major problem with complications that result in chronic wounds. As these new layers are pulled together in the final phase, fluid builds below the wound surface.
There are a few abnormal aspects of healing that could cause extra itching over your stitches. Contact your doctor if you experience inflammation, redness, or oozing, which can be signs of:. Wound care can be complicated and may include cleaning and dressing the area. Scratching an itchy wound could cause it to break open and delay healing. Some ways to relieve stitch itch include:. For more severe wounds and itching, or wounds that take a long time to heal, your doctor may have to try:.
You might think that scratching, or even a gentle rub, will help relieve your itch. But scratching stitches or any other healing wound can disrupt the healing process. Delicate new layers of tissue can easily be ripped apart, forcing you to return to earlier healing stages. This will make your wound take even longer to heal, further prolonging your itch, and possibly leading to complications like chronic wounds or infections.
Not all wound closures — like dissolving stitches or surgical glue — require removal. Sometimes, excessive itching can be a sign of a complication in your wound healing. Necrotic tissue, infection, excessive fluid buildup, and more can all lead to increased itching and problems with wound healing.
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