Health Tip: Caring For Your Stitches

(HealthDay News) -- If you''ve just had surgery or a procedure that required an incision and stitches, here are a few tips on helping the wound heal, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• Change your bandage the day after your procedure. Many incision sites won''t need bandaging after a few days, but follow your doctor''s instructions on when to stop covering the stitches.
• Some redness is normal. However, if the incision is very red and painful, and redness extends more than a half inch from the site, call your doctor. You may have an infection that requires an antibiotic or other treatment.
• Don''t take a shower or bath for the first 24 hours after the procedure. Keeping the incision site clean and dry is key to avoiding infection. After 24 hours, you should be able to take a shower or sponge bath, and gently pat the area dry.
• Monitor your physical activity after surgery to reduce the chances of pulling apart your stitches. Strenuous physical activity, including sports, should be avoided for about a month after surgery. Lifting and straining yourself also should be avoided.
• If you''re out in the sun, use sunscreen or cover your incision site with tape for several months after your procedure. Scars that have been exposed to the sun are more likely to darken and become more noticeable.
• Your stitches may dissolve on their own, or they may need to be removed by your doctor within a week or so after surgery.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: May 19, 2006