AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS

​The first 5 days are important to stop bleeding and prevent infection. Please follow these instructions in the days, weeks and months following your procedure.

 

Depending on your dressing you may have to keep the wound dry. 

Water tight dressings can handle a light shower but not a bath or a swim MUST BE REMOVED AFTER 2 DAYS

 

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Breathable dressings can be removed after 2-4 days if the wound is dry. If your dressing accidentally becomes wet, please remove and replace dressing straight away.

 

After removal of the dressing a dry wound can be gently showered and dried e.g. with a hair dryer. You may need to redress the wound to stop dirt and fluff getting on the wound. You may have been provided with a strip of “Cutiplast” to do this.

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Click HERE to see some wounds where the patient was able to self manage after a shave biopsy

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Infection

Monitor for signs of infection and reach out to the clinic at the first sign of any problems.

Common symptoms include

• Increasing pain and/or throbbing at the site

• Redness and swelling to the edges of the wound

• Warm to touch

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Click HERE to see a wound infection which needed antibiotics

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Healing​​

The next 3 months are about getting the best cosmetic result (i.e. reducing the scars appearance).

 

Once the original dressing has been removed apply Vaseline, QV intensive or other greasy moisturiser to the wound (n.b. If you don’t care about the scar letting the scab harden up makes it easier to manage).

Softening the wound encourages the scab so it comes away without damaging the newly formed fragile skin underneath the scab. The scab may become gunky and oozey in appearance and as such continuing dressings will be required.

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After the scab has come away from the wound the raw base will have a white often punctured base. This white “slough” is part of the healing process and will slowly come away, it is different to pus which is a white liquid that can be squeezed out of a grossly infected wound. Once this slough is gone you should have a fresh pink scar underneath. At this point the wound is now sealed and ready for a silicon gel like Strataderm®.

 

Strataderm®

How to use Strataderm®

Apply the silicon gel in a thin layer to the scar.

When applied correctly, the Strataderm® should be dry in 3–4 minutes.

If it takes longer to dry you have probably applied too much.

Gently remove any excess gel with a tissue or paper towel and allow the drying process to continue.

Once dry, Strataderm® can be covered with clothes, sunscreen or cosmetics.

Continue to use strataderm for 3 months.

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