Surgical incisions require daily care in order to heal quickly and completely without becoming infected. Closed surgical incisions require the same care whether they were closed with sutures , staples, steri-strips or surgical glue. Open incisions, or incisions that are left open for the surgeon to close at a later time, require very different care from the standard closed incision.
Good handwashing technique, using warm water and soap, should take no less than 30 seconds. A quick wash under the water is not adequate to protect your wound from infection.
Hand washing should be done before touching your incision, before changing the dressing on your incision if you have one, after using the restroom, and before showering. If you have had surgery and your incision is still healing, plan on showering at least once a day if you are able. A shower is an ideal way to clean your incision and remove soap residue without softening the incision to the point of weakness. A gentle antibacterial soap is ideal for someone healing from surgery to help prevent infection.
Liquid soap may be easier to use, as it can be easily applied without a washcloth. Be sure to rinse your incision well to make sure no soap residue remains after showering. Take care not to scrub your incision when you are in the shower. Take care not to scrub the incision, which may remove scabs , slow healing and irritate the incision. While it is safe to take a regular shower, it is important not to allow the incision to be wet so long that it puckers how your fingers do after a bath or a swim and softens.
If your wound was closed with steri-strips or surgical glue do not scrub or use a washcloth on it. They may appear dirty, which is normal, but they should be allowed to remain in place until they fall off on their own. Scrubbing can cause them to fall off, leaving your incision vulnerable to opening when it should be closing. When you are finished with your shower, gently pat your incision and allow to air dry completely before covering with a bandage or clothing.
Whether you are standing in the shower or taking a sponge bath, the daily bath is meant to decrease the chances of infection due to bacteria that live on your skin. Cleanliness is key to preventing infection. You should plan to inspect your incision daily until it closes completely and your surgeon indicates that you have finished healing from your surgery.
When you finish with your shower, take the time to pat your incision dry or allow it to air dry. Sometimes, an incision breaks open. This may happen along the entire cut or just part of it. Your doctor may decide not to close it again with sutures stitches. If your doctor does not close your wound again with sutures, you need to care for it at home, since it may take time to heal.
The wound will heal from the bottom to the top. A dressing helps absorb drainage and keep the skin from closing before the wound underneath fills in. It is important to clean your hands before you change your dressing. You can use an alcohol-based cleanser. Or, you can wash your hands using these steps:. Your health care provider will tell you how often to change your dressing.
To prepare for the dressing change:. Place the clean dressing on the wound as your provider taught you to. You may be using a wet-to-dry dressing. Throw away the old dressing and other used supplies in a waterproof plastic bag. Close it tightly, then double it before putting it in the trash. Wash any soiled laundry from the dressing change separately from other laundry. Ask your provider if you need to add bleach to the wash water.
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. 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. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again.
Important Phone Numbers. Top of the page. 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 odour of the discharge. A change in the size of the incision.
Redness or hardening of the surrounding area.
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