Clean the circumcision site with warm water and a cotton ball once or twice a day. Apply Vaseline for several days. This helps keep the area clean and keeps the wound site from adhering to the diaper.
After your son's circumcision is done, petroleum jelly or gauze impregnated with petroleum jelly is usually applied. The gauze can be removed after 24 hours. To do this, apply Vaseline to the gauze with a diaper change, then at the next diaper change take the gauze off.
After the dressing is off, apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or any other clean gooey salve to the inside of your son's diaper so that his penis does not stick to the diaper. Do this for 7 days.
Incision care
Wash the area daily with warm water and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.
After the bandage is off, leave the penis open to the air and apply Vaseline or bacitracin ointment to the penis with each diaper change or several times a day. This will prevent the dry edges of the incision from sticking to the diaper.
It is prudent to apply the petroleum jelly on glans and meatal area of circumcised boys after each diaper change for 6 months post-circumcision.
Applying soft white paraffin ointment (Vaseline® ointment) under the foreskin helps to heal genital skin. Try to avoid contact with irritants of the genital skin.
After the circumcision, you will need to take steps to care for your baby's penis until it heals. This includes cleaning the area with plain water at least once daily, and whenever the area becomes dirty after a bowel movement. Allow the area to dry, and then apply petroleum jelly liberally to prevent irritation.
Pat the cut (incision) dry. You may also take short baths if you wish. Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for 4 weeks or until your doctor says it is okay. You can return to work and normal activities, including driving, when you are comfortable doing them.
Wearing light, loose-fitting clothing for 2 or 3 days after your operation will also help avoid irritation to your penis while it heals. You may feel some discomfort while passing urine, but contact your GP if painkillers don't help or if the pain is getting worse.
Petroleum jelly is made from a blend of natural waxes and mineral oils. People often refer in general to petroleum jelly as “Vaseline®”, but the real Vaseline® petroleum jelly is different. The real Vaseline® petroleum jelly is triple purified to remove impurities. It is gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin.
Vaseline: The wet scab can stick to the diaper, therefore please place Vaseline ointment around the tip of the penis (and over the Surgicel while it is present) starting with the first diaper change after the circumcision and every diaper change until the healing is completed (usually within 5-7 days).
As the circumcision heals, you will probably see a red "bloody" scab; more likely you will see a white to yellow to gray "wet scab" - this is not pus - it is a normal healing process. Do not mistakenly wipe it off - it will take the penis longer to heal if you remove it!
The best sleeping position for your baby is on his side, supported by a blanket roll. 4) Healing is promoted by keeping the area clean and dry. Warm water and a cotton-ball or washcloth are preferred for cleaning the area around the penis.
The area should be kept dry for 48 hours after the operation. After this, take warm baths or showers once or twice a day. Don't use bubble bath or scented soaps, as these may irritate your healing wound. Leave the penis to dry naturally after having a bath or shower.
Bathing. It's best to avoid full-body bathing until the second day after surgery, but sponge baths are fine. After the second day, you can shower or bathe as normal, but don't scrub the incision site — just let the soapy warm water run over the incision and pat it dry.
The wound heals in 5 to 7 days. If the ring is plastic, a piece of suture is tied tightly around the foreskin. This pushes the tissue into a groove in the plastic over the head of the penis. Within 5 to 7 days, the plastic covering the penis falls free, leaving a completely healed circumcision.
Recovery from circumcision takes about eight to 10 days. While the penis heals, it may look swollen and red. You may see a yellow film at the tip.
After the operation the penis will be swollen and look very bruised. This is a normal effect of both the injected anaesthetic and the handling it receives during the operation. These will gradually reduce over the next week or two.
Contact your GP or Practice Nurse for advice if:
The wound becomes very red, swollen or tender after at least four days. This may indicate infection. You have difficulty in passing urine. You have Increasing pain or pain that cannot be controlled with pain killers.
Petroleum jelly is a wonderful moisturizer to use on the vulva after bathing and can be used anytime for comfort. Do not use petroleum jelly with condoms—it can break down the condom so it gets holes in it. A lukewarm or warm bath can be soothing. Do not put any soaps, bubble bath, or oils in the water.
Excessive and improper usage of petroleum jelly can result in certain side effects such as clogged pores, pneumonia, allergies, and infections. You need to avoid using petroleum jelly if you have acne-prone, oily, or combination skin.
After the circumcision has healed:
Usually, after the circumcision has healed, the penis requires no additional care. Occasionally a small piece of the foreskin remains. You should pull back this skin gently each time the child is bathed. Examine the groove around the head of the penis and make sure it's clean.
Foreskin restoration is something that you can do if you were circumcised as a child. It is a method or practice to regrow your foreskin. There are a few different options for foreskin restoration including surgery and skin stretching tools.
The head is often raw when the foreskin is pulled back for the circumcision. A yellow-whitish film may develop on the head of the penis in the first few days after surgery. This typically goes away within one week. This is not pus or a sign of infection.