Can you moisturize stitches?

Treat the area with care. A greasy ointment, e.g. Vaseline, can be applied directly over the stitches twice daily. The wound should be washed prior to applying Vaseline. This helps to prevent and lift crusting; massaging gently over the wound may help to improve the appearance of scarring.

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What can I use to moisturize my stitches?

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.

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Can I put moisturizer on my stitches?

If dissolvable stitches have been used, then after 7 days, and as long as the wound is closed with no oozing, you should lightly massage the suture line with a non-perfumed moisturiser to encourage the stitches to fall out. You need to apply the cream and massage at least twice a day.

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Should you keep stitches dry or moist?

Try to keep your stitches dry for at least 48 hours after surgery. A doctor or nurse will tell you when you can get your stitches wet or if they need to be kept dry.

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Can you put cream on healing stitches?

If you have sutures (stitches): -Apply Vaseline or Aquaphor healing ointment to the sutured site 3-4x/ day for the next three to four days. The ointment will help the wound heal more quickly and minimize scarring.

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How to care for a healing wound

23 related questions found

Is it OK to put Vaseline on stitches?

Treat the area with care. A greasy ointment, e.g. Vaseline, can be applied directly over the stitches twice daily. The wound should be washed prior to applying Vaseline. This helps to prevent and lift crusting; massaging gently over the wound may help to improve the appearance of scarring.

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Does Vaseline help stitches heal faster?

Remember to cleanse your wound daily with gentle soap and water, apply petroleum jelly and cover it with an adhesive bandage for faster healing, Etemad says, adding, "And if you have any questions or are unsure about your wound, come visit us at our Tustin office."

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How do you tell if stitches are healing well?

Signs of Healing
  1. Scabs. Your general cuts and puncture wounds go through three stages of healing: bleeding, clotting, and scabbing. ...
  2. Swelling. Swelling is a sign that your immune system is repairing your wound. ...
  3. Tissue Growth. ...
  4. Scarring.

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Should you cover stitches while healing?

Keep your stitches or staples dry and covered with a bandage. Non-absorbable stitches and staples need to be kept dry for 1 to 2 days. Absorbable stitches sometimes need to be kept dry longer. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep your stitches dry.

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Can you get stitches wet after 2 weeks?

After those first 48 hours, though, it's totally fine to get your stitches briefly wet via the light spray of a shower. But emphasis on "briefly" here. Dr. Yaakovian stresses that you'll want to avoid soaking or submerging your stitches in water for about four weeks.

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Can you put moisturiser on a healing wound?

Healed wounds

It is important that you keep your new skin clean and hydrated. When you are no longer in dressings you can begin to bath again initially with a mild baby soap. Moisturisers can be used to soften the skin, prevent dryness and reduce feelings of tightness.

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Should you moisturize a surgical wound?

Keeping the skin moisturised once the initial wound has healed, after approximately 3 weeks, is the best method of preventing or reducing scars. Bath emollients and moisturisers can also help to restore the skin's smoothness and elasticity.

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What not to do after getting stitches?

It's important not to scratch your stitches; even though they're strong, scratching may damage them. You should avoid contact sports, such as football or hockey, to give your wound the best possible chance to heal. You should not go swimming until your wound has healed and your stitches have been removed.

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Why is my skin dry around my stitches?

Dry skin accompanies most surgical procedures as a result of the temporary tissue swelling that takes place with any operation. This temporary stretch causes the skin to produce/have more of the outer skin than it needs and once the swelling resolves, this skin sloughs off.

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Do stitches heal faster covered or uncovered?

A handful of studies have found that when wounds are kept moist and covered, blood vessels regenerate faster and the number of cells that cause inflammation drop more rapidly than they do in wounds allowed to air out. It is best to keep a wound moist and covered for at least five days.

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How can I improve my stitches healing?

How to Speed Up Wound Healing
  1. Get Some Rest. Getting a lot of sleep can help wounds heal more quickly. ...
  2. Eat Your Veggies. Healthy food and nutritional supplements are said to boost your immune response and prompt the wound healing process. ...
  3. Don't Stop the Exercise. ...
  4. Quit Smoking.

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How long do you put Vaseline on stitches?

How long do I apply Vaseline and a bandaid? 1-2 weeks until the sutures are removed, then for 1 week after just apply Vaseline. If you hate the bandage, you can go without it, but you must reapply the Vaseline 5-10 times a day, the wound must not dry out.

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Can I get my stitches wet after 7 days?

Keep the cut dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. After this, you can shower if your doctor okays it. Pat the cut dry. Don't soak the cut, such as in a bathtub.

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Can you leave stitches in longer than 10 days?

Stitches and staples are used to keep wounds together during healing. They need to be removed within 4-14 days. The specific removal date depends on the location of the stitches or staples. Removal should not be delayed.

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How long does it take for a stitch to fully heal?

A large or deep cut will heal faster if your healthcare provider sutures it. This helps to make the area your body has to rebuild smaller. This is why surgical wounds typically heal faster than other kinds of wounds. Surgery cuts normally take 6 to 8 weeks to heal, according to St.

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Are stitches healed in a week?

Most types should start to dissolve or fall out within a week or two, although it may be a few weeks before they disappear completely. Some may last for several months. Ask your doctor about the type of stitches you have been given and how long they should take to dissolve.

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What do stitches feel like when they're healing?

You might feel sharp, shooting pains in your wound area. This may be a sign that you're getting sensations back in your nerves. The feeling should become less intense and happen less often over time, but check with your doctor if you're concerned.

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Should you put ointment on stitches?

A layer of polysporin or bacitracin ointment must be kept over the sutures until they are removed. You may leave the incision site covered or uncovered during the day it is your preference, however, we do recommend that a layer of the antibiotic ointment be kept over the sutures at all times.

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Is coconut oil good for stitches?

The short answer is yes. There are many great uses for coconut oil including its ability to promote wound healing due to its high concentration of monolaurin. Monolaurin is a fatty acid renowned for its antimicrobial effects.

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Can I put lotion on surgical incision?

Though always wise to run any changes in your recovery by your surgeon, you should be fine to start ointment or lotion application to your incisions.

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