How should I care for my stitches?

Generally, you can imagine stitches under your skin the same as those in your shirts or trousers. In the medical field, the thread is also used to hold your skin together. 

The thread was made from a variety of materials, for example, there are nylon thread and silk thread being used worldwide. In some cases, for example, if you are having an operation in the mouth, usually the doctor will use thread that will dissolve by themselves. But in other cases, it needs to be removed later. Having stitches are crucial as they help you to stop the bleeding or get infected by germs or bacteria. Apart from that, stitches also help you to reduce scarring.

     After you get any stitches on your skin, usually the doctors or the nurses will give you some instructions regarding how to manage and keep good care of them. They will also tell you what is the best time to find a doctor for a medical check-up and when the thread will come out. In most cases, it commonly takes around a few days until not more than 2 weeks to come out. The duration is depending on the depth of your wound, the location of the wound on your body, and the types of stitches that are being applied to your wound. If you are confused about the instructions that were given by the doctors, please make sure that you call and ask your doctor again regarding the confusion.

     For the first day after getting stitched, you need to keep it dry for the first 24 hours. By doing that, you will lower the risk of getting an infection in the wound area. Always follow your doctor’s instructions regarding how to clean the wound and what is the best time to do it. After the doctor sewed in the stitches, usually you need to wait for at least one day to make sure the stitches were dry before cleaning.

     For the day afterward, you should clean up the dirt and crust that appear all over the stitches as it may lower the risk for you to get a scar. If there are clear and yellow fluids drained over from the wound, you may have to apply a bandage onto the wound to stop the drainage of fluids. After washing the dirt and crust, make sure that you dry the wound area with a clean, dry, and sterile towel or clothes to make sure that it is always in a dry condition. Below are some other tips for you to take care of the stitches:

1.    Endure the desire to scratch your wound as scratching may pull them out.

2.    Avoid swimming for the time being. Before you go to the pool or pond, you need to hold up until your stitches have come out.

3.    Take a bath. During the shower, try to protect your wound from getting wet. If the stitches get wet, you may dry it by using a towel or cloth and applying a gentle pat onto the wound.

4.    Avoid playing any sports that require you to have body contact with others. It is because you are trying to avoid any bruises or swelling in the tender area.

5.    Keep your children away from the dirty area. Keep away your child from mud, sand, and paint that will make the wound become dirty and increase the risk of getting an infection.

You also need to be extra watch out for the sign and symptoms of your wound getting get infected by bacteria or germs such as:

1.   There is a bulging or increase in redness

2.   Worsening of the pain

3.   Increase in the temperature at the area of the skin around the wound

4.   Foul odor can be smelled from the wound

5.   Increase in drainage of the wound

6.   You are experiencing fever or chills