What should you not put on stitches? (2023)

Is it OK to put Neosporin on stitches?

Please DO NOT use Neosporin, Polysporin or Double or Triple Antibiotic ointment. These products can cause irritation. 5. Apply a bandage or band aid large enough to prevent adhesive from sticking to the open wound.

-Apply Vaseline or Aquaphor healing ointment to the sutured site 3-4x/ day for the next three to four days. The ointment will help the wound heal more quickly and minimize scarring. We prefer Vaseline or Aquaphor to antibiotic ointment due to the increase in allergic reactions to antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin.

Keep your stitches or staples dry and covered with a bandage. Non-absorbable stitches and staples need to be kept dry for 1 to 2 days. Absorbable stitches sometimes need to be kept dry longer. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep your stitches dry.

A layer of polysporin or bacitracin ointment must be kept over the sutures until they are removed. You may leave the incision site covered or uncovered during the day it is your preference, however, we do recommend that a layer of the antibiotic ointment be kept over the sutures at all times.

Antibiotic ointments (such as Neosporin) help wounds heal by keeping out infection and by keeping the wound clean and moist.

Vaseline might be better for wound healing

A 2013 study found that surgical wounds treated with Aquaphor had a higher incidence of redness at the wound site when compared with surgical wounds treated with Vaseline. So, if you're healing after surgery, you may want to reach for Vaseline.

3. One week after suture removal you may begin to massage the scar using Vaseline or Aquaphor along the suture line.

If dissolvable stitches have been used, then after 7 days, and as long as the wound is closed with no oozing, you should lightly massage the suture line with a non-perfumed moisturiser to encourage the stitches to fall out. You need to apply the cream and massage at least twice a day.

Should Vaseline be put on stitches?

Treat the area with care. A greasy ointment, e.g. Vaseline, can be applied directly over the stitches twice daily. The wound should be washed prior to applying Vaseline. This helps to prevent and lift crusting; massaging gently over the wound may help to improve the appearance of scarring.

Clean & Bandage the Wound

After cleaning apply white petrolatum (Vaseline) or bacitracin (Polysporin) to keep the area moist. If using Vaseline, buy new Vaseline if the supply you already have is more than three months old. Then cover with a band-aid.

Should you keep stitches covered? You'll likely leave the hospital or your provider's office with your stitches already covered, and Dr. Yaakovian recommends leaving them dressed for two to three days. During this time, avoid getting the covering wet.

Once the wound has formed a scab, there is no longer the need to cover it with a bandage as the scab now acts as a protective barrier. Keep the area clean, but be gentle so that you do not accidentally remove the scab.

But, says Macrene, it's worth considering making the switch to Aquaphor: "A study showed that using bacitracin or neomycin [both present in Neosporin] as compared to Aquaphor caused resistant bacteria in wounds." Aquaphor. Both derms agree: This is your best bet for wound care treatment.

It's important to keep sutures clean and dry, especially for the first 24 hours. After 24 hours, you can wet the sutured area gently and quickly, for example in a sink or in the shower. Carefully pat the stitches dry immediately, as moisture can slow down the healing process.

cleaning the stitches gently with mild soap and water. avoiding perfumed soaps, alcohol wipes, iodine, and peroxide. patting the area dry gently with a fresh towel after cleaning. using only ointments that a healthcare professional has recommended or prescribed.

A handful of studies have found that when wounds are kept moist and covered, blood vessels regenerate faster and the number of cells that cause inflammation drop more rapidly than they do in wounds allowed to air out. It is best to keep a wound moist and covered for at least five days.

If the wound environment is dry, the cells will have to find moisture deep in the wound bed so that they can migrate. This slows down the healing process. In fact, studies show that moist wounds heal 50 % faster than dry wounds.

Do stitches hurt more as they heal?

You might feel sharp, shooting pains in your wound area. This may be a sign that you're getting sensations back in your nerves. The feeling should become less intense and happen less often over time, but check with your doctor if you're concerned.

Do not use it on skin areas that have cuts, scrapes, or burns. If it does get on these areas, rinse it off right away with water. This medicine should only be used for skin conditions that your doctor is treating.

Neosporin should only be used on small cuts, scrapes, or burns. You shouldn't use it over large areas of the body or for more serious injuries. If you have deep or puncture wounds, animal bites, or serious burns, ask your provider right away about what you should do to treat your injury.

Aloe vera gel or cream on postoperative wounds (three times a day for 5-10 days) could reduce pain and recovery time.

Answer: Neosporin on stitches

You may certainly place an antibiotic ointment on the suture line during the first few days of healing. I usually suggest this for the first week or two and then switch to silicone scar gel once the wound has primarily healed.

Apply an antibiotic cream or ointment, such as Aquaphor or Vaseline, to your incision site, and keep it covered with appropriate bandaging to prevent dirt, bacteria, and other irritants from entering the wound. A moist environment helps the cells to replicate and properly bond together to close up the incision faster.

Don't routinely use topical antibiotics on a surgical wound.

The use of topical antibiotics on clean surgical wounds has not been shown to reduce the rate of infection compared to the use of nonantibiotic ointment or no ointment. Topical antibiotics can aggravate open wounds, hindering the normal wound healing process.

A greasy ointment, e.g. Vaseline, can be applied directly over the stitches twice daily. The wound should be washed prior to applying Vaseline. This helps to prevent and lift crusting; massaging gently over the wound may help to improve the appearance of scarring.

Should you keep stitches covered? You'll likely leave the hospital or your provider's office with your stitches already covered, and Dr. Yaakovian recommends leaving them dressed for two to three days. During this time, avoid getting the covering wet.

Can I get my stitches wet after 7 days?

After 48 hours, surgical wounds can get wet without increasing the risk of infection. 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). Make sure you pat the area dry afterwards.