How do I take care of stitches?
You can usually wash an area that has been stitched in one to three days. Washing off dirt and the crust that may form around the stitches helps reduce scarring. If the wound drains clear yellow fluid, you may need to cover it.
Your doctor may suggest that you rinse the wound with water and rebandage it in 24 hours. Be sure to dry it well after washing. You may want to keep the wound elevated above your heart for the first day or two to help lessen swelling, reduce pain and speed healing.
Your doctor may also suggest using a small amount of antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. The ointment also keeps a heavy scab from forming and may reduce the size of a scar.
Stitches are usually removed in 3 to 14 days, depending on where the cut is located. Areas that move, such as over or around the joints, require more time to heal.
How Does a Kid Take Care of Stitches?
Your doctor will tell you how to care for your stitches. It's important to follow the directions carefully with your mom's or dad's help. Different kinds of stitches - sutures, glue, and butterflies - need different kinds of care. The doctor probably will tell you to keep your cut dry for at least 1 day. Some stitches cannot get wet, but others can. Some cuts with stitches need to be coated in a thick antibiotic (say: an-ty-by-
ah-tik) ointment and covered with a bandage to prevent infection. Glue, on the other hand, shouldn't be coated with ointment. It's important that you don't tug or pull on the stitches, even if they get itchy. And don't ever try to take the stitches out by yourself.
If you notice that you've popped or torn a stitch, or if your cut is hot, red, swollen, or oozing
pus (a yellowish or greenish thick liquid), be sure to tell a parent. You may need to see the doctor to check if the cut is infected.
