Dressing Change
Home Care
If the dressing or bandage becomes wet or dirty, replace it. Otherwise, leave it in place for the first 24 hours.
Then once a day:
- Remove the dressing and wash the area with soap and water.
- Use a wet cotton swab to loosen and remove any blood or crust that forms on the wound.
- After cleaning, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment or cream.
- Put a new, clean dressing back on.
- Always wash your hands before and after dressing changes.
You can shower as usual after the first 24 hours. If the dressing is on an arm or leg, cover it with a plastic bag rubber-banded at both ends before showering. Take care that the rubber bands are not too tight, cutting off circulation to the affected area. If the area is not on an arm or leg and can't be covered with a bag, then don't shower or take a tub bath. Take a sponge bath instead until the wound is healed.
Don't take a tub bath or go swimming until the dressing is removed and the wound healed. This will take at least 7 days.
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When to seek medical advice
Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these occur with your wound:
- Fever above 100.4°F (38°C)
- Redness, warmth, or swelling around the wound
- Increased swelling, pain, or redness in the skin around the wound
- A change in the color or size of the wound
- Pain in the wound gets worse
- Drainage from the wound that is yellow, yellow-green or that has a foul odor
- Red streaks surround the wound area
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© The StayWell Company, LLC. 800 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. This information has been modified by your health care provider with permission from the publisher.