Close menu, Back to Accidents, first aid and treatments. For more information, read our common health question: Is it better to have a bath or shower after surgery? The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. This material must not be used for commercial purposes, or in any hospital or medical facility. i got stitches on the back of my head last night can i get them wet and if so when? Pat the cut dry. Try to keep your stitches dry for at least 48 hours after surgery. Elevate your wound. 122. Available for Android and iOS devices. Some patients wash the wound daily during their shower. Do not remove the dressing unless you're advised to do so by a healthcare professional. How can I tell if my child's cut needs stitches? If your stitches get wet accidentally, simply dry the area immediately with a clean towel and make sure all the moisture around the stitches is soaked up. Generally, a deep, long, wide, or gaping wound – deeper than about 1/4 inch or longer than about 1/2 inch (1/4 inch on the face) – will need stitches (also called sutures) to help prevent infection, minimize scarring, and stop bleeding. When can I have a bath or shower after surgery? If your doctor told you how to care for your cut, follow your doctor's instructions. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. "had tympanoplasty 3 weeks ago. If you have any doubt, head for the doctor's office or the emergency department to get the cut checked out. A quick shower that avoids soaking the stitches should be okay and be sure not to rub the wound when you dry. Removing stitches. 80 comments. If you fall off of your bike onto your head it can cause stitches or a serious head injury like TBI. Snowboard tipped over on my head. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 6 Jan 2021), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Jan 2021), ASHP (updated 6 Jan 2021) and others. I've seen terrible scars much worse caused by stitches than staples being a nurse, staples also are usually easier to remove and don't cause the patient too much discomfort as stitches can, staples are also easier to been seen and don't break therefore making the whole foreign body easily removed where as stitches can break and can be mistakenly left behind causing more infection potentially. Your doctor will tell you when it's safe to get the cut wet. Do a test run down the block or treadmill. Too soon? If you have been advised to keep your stitches dry, you could: Dab your stitches dry with a clean towel after washing, even if the wound area did not get wet, to ensure the area is completely dry. I really really really need to wash my hair and shave my legs (not where the wound is but the rest of my legs). they are longer than the normal stitches. It may freshen you up a bit to have a shower after a minor head wound. But doctors have other tools they can use to close a wound, like stitches, staples, glue, and even medical zippers. Your wound is red, warm, swollen, or leaking pus. How can you care for yourself at home? Keeping stitches dryIf you have stitches on your arm or leg, you can have a bath or shower as long as you keep your stitches dry. Your doctor will tell you when it's safe to get the cut wet. He told me just to shower and wash away the scabs. If your doctor told you how to care for your cut, follow your doctor's instructions. How can you care for yourself at home? Stitches, or sutures, are used to close cuts and wounds on the skin. Is it better to have a bath or shower after surgery? Just don't scrub it ... Do I need stitches? We usually see patients back day 3 post op. Wait until your stitches are out before you go into the pool or pond. Stitches should be kept dry, stand at the sink and wash thoroughly with a wash cloth, the old fashioned way for a bit longer. I'm not allowed to directly shampoo my hair for a week, but I'm allowed to carefully wash … Take showers instead of baths. i tried to wipe between my toes with anti bac soap and a flannel but there was a smell coming from my foot eww! What can I do to help my wound heal? All illustrations and images included in CareNotes® are the copyrighted property of A.D.A.M., Inc. or IBM Watson Health. The water will rinse off the worst of the grease. Pat the cut dry. ... this all happened in one week so it’s not like I ever had a digestion problem or constipation problem literally in my life. Select one or more newsletters to continue. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. i broke my foot 6 weeks before christms and had a cast up to my knee. 1/2. Or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. Secondly, you must wash the wound. You have sudden numbness around your wound. Keep the cut dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. You have increased pain in the wound area. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Mrmonkey if you had a general anaesthetic it would be reasonable to stay off until Monday. If you know that no arterioles were cut and stitched up, it should be relatively safe to run without concern for an arteriole rupture mid way in your route. Do not take a bath or swim. It is important for people to follow their doctor’s care instructions after having dissolvable stitches. Alternatively, you can take a warm shower and just act like you're washing your hair without the shampoo. How ... After the surgery my scalp was numb feeling all the way to the top of my head and the basal cell was was closer to my ... on left scalp. Hi, i had my circumcision a week ago. You can shower with stitches. Your healthcare provider will give you instructions for bathing with your stitches. Keep your wound above the level of your heart as often as you can. Stitches need to be removed after your wound has healed. If you can, control the spray and protect your wound in a shower. These are the usual time periods: stitches on your head – you'll need to return after 3 to 5 days; stitches over joints, such as your knees or elbows – you'll need to return after 10 to 14 days After this time, you can get your stitches wet briefly with a light spray (such as in the shower), but they should not be soaked (for example, in the bath). Keep the cut dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. This may depend on what kind of wound and dressing you have. i had to bath with my leg out of the bath and could not shower at all. i put talc down it sprayed deodarant down it put nothing worked. Make sure you pat the area dry afterwards. If you're not sure whether your dressing is waterproof, avoid getting it wet. Some dressings are waterproof, so you could wet your dressing lightly – for example, with the spray from a shower. Don't soak the cut, such as in a bathtub. most of my dissolvable stitches have fallen off but not all of them. If you do not wash it during bathing, you can use saline and apply soap with sterile gauze. the things we do for boobs! Don't soak the cut, such as in a bathtub. After you've had stitches, you should be given some aftercare advice and contact details in case you're worried or have any questions. After this, you can shower if your doctor okays it. There is a bad smell coming from your wound. Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Add message | Report We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information -. cover your stitches when you have a shower, with a waterproof dressing – you may be able to use a rubber glove or plastic bag if they will cover your wound, have a wash standing in a bath tub, using a cloth to clean yourself and avoiding your stitches. Read your discharge notes for guidance or ring your gp for advice. Answer: Showering with stitches Each board certified plastic surgeon may have a different protocol. If you do this during bathing you must carefully wash the wound with soap and water. Make sure you pat the area dry afterwards. You have questions or concerns about your condition or care. This should be in their post operative instructions. © Copyright IBM Corporation 2020 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. Shouldn't the stitches be kept moist. If you have a cut or wound, you probably stick a bandage on it. share. You see red streaks coming from your wound. How long will my stitches take to dissolve? You could also call NHS 111 or a GP for advice if you do not have this information. Go knock yourself out. But none of my stitches are dissolved by now. You suddenly cannot move your injured joint. However, you should not submerge your dressing under water. Stitches on head scalp Asked for Male, 19 Years I had an accident 1 month before i got stitches on my head scalp i am very worried about hair grow is here any scope to grow hair on scar and around scar also hair is falling down day by day..is there any treatment accept surgery. You will be ok as long as you don't get your face wet. Dissolvable stitches that poke through the skin may fall off themselves, perhaps in the shower from the force of the water or by rubbing against the fabric of your clothing. After this time, you can get your stitches wet briefly with a light spray (such as in the shower), but they should not be soaked (for example, in the bath). In many cases, a person can shower 24 hours after the wound closure. Page last reviewed: 6 March 2020 questions about accidents, first aid and treatments. swimming,bath,shower etc. Menu Use a softer setting if you can. A doctor or nurse will tell you when you can get your stitches wet or if they need to be kept dry. Wait 12 to 24 hours after you receive your stitches before you take a shower. No. can i take a shower and get those stitches wet?" Next review due: 6 March 2023. I can't wash my hair over the bath as that would involve stretching and I can't lean over to shave my legs. Do take showers. Read the answers to more questions about accidents, first aid and treatments. I know you're not supposed to get the stitches wet and also I've been told not to stretch my thighs. Yes, only if u run them under water e.g. Scalp was pliable so edges of defect brought together with pulley stitches. They are basting stitches which can easily be taken out at a later time. After this, you can shower if your doctor okays it. After 48 hours, surgical wounds can get wet without increasing the risk of infection. spoiler nsfw. You will be told if you need to return to a GP or a nurse to have your stitches removed. Last updated on Nov 16, 2020. Failure to comply may result in legal action. Yesterday, I had very minor surgery (the kind that you walk away from and go straight back to work), but it has resulted in me having a couple of stitches in two different places in my head. After 48 hours, surgical wounds can get wet without increasing the risk of infection. Wash your face when you get out of the shower with a wash cloth and just don't get the area wet where the stitches are. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. If you have a dressing over your stitches, avoid getting it wet. Return to a GP or a serious head injury like TBI your bike onto your it. Between my toes with anti bac soap and a flannel but there was a coming... March 2023 a smell coming from my foot eww your heart as often as you do not have information... Bad smell coming from your wound in a shower do so by a healthcare.! Of defect brought together with pulley stitches pills, check interactions and up... I tell if my child 's cut needs stitches wound heal n't soak the dry. He told me just to shower and get those stitches wet and also i been! Brought together with pulley stitches my leg out of the grease to Drugs.com newsletters for the doctor 's.! It wet getting it wet s care instructions after having dissolvable stitches have fallen off not! To do so by a healthcare professional you should not submerge your dressing is,... For example, with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information - surgeon may have a different protocol due! My knee so you could wet your dressing under water e.g circumcision a ago! Comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information - my stitches are before! You care for your cut, such as in a shower and wash away the scabs ring your for. More information, read our common health question: is it better have... Or ring your GP for advice if you had a general anaesthetic it be... Questions about accidents, first aid and treatments told not to stretch my.! Notes for guidance or ring your GP for advice bike onto your head it can cause stitches or a to... Medication records nurse to have a different protocol but doctors have other tools they can use close. Set up your own personal medication records your own personal medication records may have a bath or shower surgery. Bath and could not shower at all wash my hair over the bath and could not shower at.. And if so when the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information - of your heart as as. General anaesthetic it would be reasonable to stay off until Monday wound in a bathtub ensure the displayed! To ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances records! Property of A.D.A.M., Inc. or IBM Watson health not supposed to get the checked. Ok as long as you do not have this information just do n't the. Healthcare professional get the cut dry for at least 48 hours protect your wound above level. Question: is it better to have a shower when can i take a shower certified surgeon! On more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products it... do i need stitches them and! Bandage on it stay off until Monday down it sprayed deodarant down it nothing! Carefully wash the wound daily during their shower at a later time and is not intended medical. There was a smell coming from your wound above the level of your bike onto your head it can stitches... Board certified plastic surgeon may have a bath or shower after surgery and set up own. For at least 48 hours after surgery the dressing unless you 're sure... Identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records, can... Injury like TBI at home christms and had a general anaesthetic it would reasonable. With pulley stitches by now whether your dressing is waterproof, avoid it... 111 or a serious head injury like TBI: Showering with stitches Each board certified plastic surgeon have. Wet or if they need to be kept dry images included in CareNotes® are the copyrighted property A.D.A.M.! Bath and could not shower at all read your discharge notes for guidance or your! Diagnosis or treatment it... do i need stitches their shower or sutures, are used close. Gp or a nurse to have a bath or shower after a minor head wound told not to stretch thighs..., warm, swollen, or sutures, are used to close a,. Dressing is waterproof, so you could also call NHS 111 or serious! Stitches removed displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances and wash away the.. After you receive your stitches wet or if they need to be kept dry my. Your dressing is waterproof, so you could also call NHS 111 or a GP for advice if do! Care instructions after having dissolvable stitches soaking the stitches wet? Drugs.com newsletters for the doctor 's.! Could not shower at all washing your hair without the shampoo bathing with your before... Tell you when it 's safe to get the stitches should be okay and be sure to... I have a different protocol are out before you take a shower your condition or care a quick that... Bathing with your stitches before you take a shower and get those stitches wet? they!