Suturing is the most common way to close a gaping wound, especially for large, deep wounds. However, suture wounds also require treatment. There are ways that need to be applied to keep the wound wound safe.
In order to heal quickly, stitches need special care that is different from treatment for ordinary wounds.
Check and do the things below so that the stitches stay awake and don't leave old fading scars.
- Avoid replacing bandages that might close the wound during the first 24 hours. On the second day, clean the wound and replace the bandage with a new one.
- After 24 hours after suturing the wound, clean the stitches twice a day to reduce the risk of infection, with water and mild soap that does not contain perfume or irritants.
- Apply antibiotic ointment according to doctor's recommendations and prescriptions.
- Avoid swimming or other activities that can cause dirty, wet, or infected infections.
- As much as possible, keep the stitches clean and dry. Avoid soaking the wound in water. When bathing, avoid wounds from running water for too long. After bathing, immediately clean and dry the stitch area so it does not get wet, especially in the first 24 hours after sewing.
- Wear rubber gloves when washing, if the wound is in the hand area.
- Use the product or medication prescribed by your doctor. You may have heard that using vitamin E creams / gels / ointments can minimize scars. However, there are no research results that show the effectiveness of these ingredients in treating scars.
- Avoid stitches from sun exposure, especially in the first 6 months. Sunlight can cause permanent discoloration of the wound. This can be prevented by using sunscreen.
- In certain cases, people who have stitches but have not received a complete tetanus injection need to complete the injection. Especially in deep stab wounds caused by sharp or dirty objects.
- There are times when stitches need to be covered with bandages, especially if the wound needs absorbent fluid coming out or to protect the wound from clothing friction or exposure to dirt such as dust.
Sutures need to be removed to minimize the risk of infection and scars. The time of stitching is very dependent on the area where the suture wound is formed. Facial stitches can generally be removed after 3-5 days. Meanwhile, the stitches in the joint that are always moving may take several weeks to be removed. Not all threads on stitches need to be removed, because there are threads that can be absorbed by the body (absorbable) and disappear by themselves.
Even though removing stitches will usually not hurt, never take off your own stitches. After the stitches are removed, the stitches may become itchy and reddish as part of the healing process. However, it is important not to scratch it to prevent infection and inflammation.
Immediately check if the stitches are painful, warm, red in the middle, very itchy, or pus. In infected wounds, fever and swelling can also occur. If the wound has an infection, sometimes the doctor needs to open the stitches and give antibiotics to the wound.
Suture will heal longer if you have certain health conditions such as diabetes, malnutrition, or undergoing chemotherapy treatment. It can take months, or even years, for the scarring to fade and disappear. Some people choose to undergo plastic surgery in order to get rid of these stitches. Some people can experience keloids in their sewing scars. This is the formation of scar tissue or fibrosis due to excessive tissue repair process in response to surgical wounds or cuts.
To support good wound healing, you need adequate nutrition and rest, and to keep the wound clean. Follow the doctor's advice and treat your wound as well as possible to avoid infection.
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