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Wound Care.

Your wound may have been treated by suturing (stitches), wound closure strips (butterfly plasters) or medical glue. The method depends on the type of wound.

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Wound Care

Your wound may have been treated by suturing (stitches), wound closure strips (butterfly plasters) or medical glue. The method depends on the type of wound.

Care of Sutured Wounds (Stitches)

Scalp wounds

Wash your hair with mild shampoo as soon as possible after treatment and dry carefully.
Do not wash again until sutures are removed.
Use a brush rather than a comb to avoid catching the stitches.

Facial wounds

Keep wound dry until sutures are removed
Do not cover
Do not try to remove any scabs or dried blood
Do not use make-up or creams whilst sutures are in
If sutures are in lip, use a straw to drink, rinse mouth with warm, salt water or an antiseptic mouth wash. Please make sure you do not swallow salt water

Sutures from the face are usually removed in 5 days, and from other areas of the body between 7–10 days.
You will need to make an appointment at your GP surgery to have sutures removed.
You will be advised if the sutures do not need to be removed by the nurse or doctor treating you.

Bandaged wounds

Do not remove the bandage until you see your practice nurse, unless advised otherwise
Keep bandage dry and clean
If wound is over a joint, keep the area exercised
If the wound is on the finger do not wear a plastic cover over the dressing

Wound Closure Strips

Facial wounds

Keep wound closure strips dry
Do not cover
Do not remove closure strips until you see your Practice Nurse, unless advised otherwise
Do not use creams or make-up whilst strips are in place

Leg wounds (shin flap injuries)

Keep bandage dry
Do not touch bandage
Rest your leg up on a stool as much as possible
Do not stand still for any length of time
Keep your appointment with the hospital or your practice, whichever is advised at the time of your injury.

Other wounds with strips applied

Keep wound dry
Do not remove dressing until seen by practice nurse, or advised otherwise
Do not wear plastic cover
Keep area exercised

If the wound is minor you may not need to see your GP, but the nurse attending to the wound will advise you as necessary.
Make an appointment with your Practice Nurse to have the strips removed as advised by the nurse.

Wound Glue

Your wound has been treated with derma+flex® gel adhesive.

Keep the wound dry. You may occasionally, briefly wet your wound in the shower – do not soak or scrub the wound area. Dab dry afterwards.
Do not apply any lotion or creams to the area while the glue is in place.
Do not rub, scratch or pick at the wound.
Protect the wound from prolonged sunlight and do not use tanning lamps while the glue is in place.
If swelling, redness or pain increases or if it feels warm, contact your doctor.
The glue will naturally slough off. Do not pick or scrub to remove.

General Advice

If you have any of the following problems:

increase in pain
swelling
inflammation
discharge or soak through the dressings

then make an earlier appointment to see your GP.
In case of any other problems, contact the Emergency Department at Queen Alexandra Hospital, 023 9228 6000 or the MIU at Gosport War Memorial Hospital, 023 8231 8022 for further advice.

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Wound Care.

Wound Care

Care of Sutured Wounds (Stitches)

Scalp wounds

Facial wounds

Bandaged wounds

Wound Closure Strips

Facial wounds

Leg wounds (shin flap injuries)

Other wounds with strips applied

Wound Glue

General Advice

Share this...

Were you prepared for the visit today?

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Part 2 – Delivering Information

Was this information useful?

How was your visit today?

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Part 2 – Delivering Information

Part 1 – Scanning QRs

Introduction Video

Burnout at work

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