treatyourscars Cover the wound completely with a waterproof dressing, and then secure each end of the dressing with duct tape. If your doctor has given you permission, use a waterproof bandage to cover the wound so it doesn’t get wet. Using waterproof plasters and dressings to cover wounds will help protect them while swimming so they can heal properly. You can swim with an open wound if it is small and you protect it with a waterproof bandage.
Another benefit of a waterproof patch is that it’s not just water that protects your wound. Once the wound is clean and dry, you can use the waterproof swim cover of your choice. If your wound is closed, it is important to prevent water from entering through the dressing and into the wound itself.
Read also: Why Do Surgery Scars Hurt
Microbes in the water can cause infection when swimming with wounds healed, especially when swimming in unclean chlorinated pools. An open or still healing wound is at risk of infection if you don’t take care of it. If your wound is getting bigger, it may mean that the infection has spread to nearby tissue.
Always inspect cuts and wounds every day for signs of infection. At each stage of healing, carefully check the wound daily for the six signs of infection.
Learn a few simple rules for caring for a healing wound. Caring for your incision after surgery is important to your health. After your surgery, your doctor will tell you how to care for your incision. Your doctor may ask you to apply an antibiotic ointment to your incision.
Read this too: Surgery Scar Healing Stages
Apply pressure directly to the incision for a few minutes to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding stops, remove the bleeding bandage, clean the incisions (see instructions below), and apply a new bandage. If the incision is bleeding, replace the bandage with a clean, dry bandage or gauze.
Hold a clean, sterile gauze at one corner and place clean gauze over the incisions. Non-stick pads and rolled-up gauze help keep the dressing in place and keep the wound clean, dry, and protected. Having a clean area to change the dressing is an important part of wound care. Clean the wound before applying the patch or bandage to avoid trapping bacteria under the patch or bandage.
Read also: How Long Do Scars Stay Red After Surgery?
Try not to touch the wound when removing an old bandage or applying ointment to the surface. If your doctor hasn’t told you to remove the dry bandage, you can get it if it sticks to the incision to remove it. The next steps are to remove the old bandage, clean and rinse the incision, and apply a new bandage. Put on medical gloves and loosen the tape holding the old bandage in place.
The steps begin by preparing the area where the dressing will be changed. The surface on which the accessories will be placed should be washed with soap and water and covered with a clean cloth or paper towel. Clean the area with mild soap and water and dry gently with a clean cloth. Use a damp cloth to remove dried blood and secretions from the skin around the incision.
Ask your doctor if you need to use alcohol-based soap or wipes to clean your incision. Take a shower instead of a bath if the incision is covered with stitches or duct tape. Sometimes the incision is closed with internal sutures (sutures below the surface of the skin).
Treatment will most likely involve the use of dressings to absorb drainage from the incision. You can protect the wound from excess moisture, dirt and contamination by applying an appropriate bandage and medical plaster. Dirt adhering to the outside of the bandage, especially if it is removed afterward, increases the risk of contamination of the wound.
After at least 48 hours, surgical wounds can become wet without increasing the risk of infection. While you should keep water out of the wound, wounds should be slightly damp to ensure proper healing. Summer breezes and sea winds may be pleasant to the skin, but they can dry out wounds that are not properly closed and bandaged. Oceans, lakes, and rivers for open water swimmers can contain bacteria, microorganisms, and viruses that can cause more problems if they get into a wound trying to heal the bacteria.
If you are not sure if the dressing is waterproof, avoid getting it wet. When going on a picnic or excursion, be sure to bring extra supplies so that you can clean, dress, and properly fix the wound. If you are in the sun, cover the scar with duct tape or sunscreen for the first 6 months after surgery.
Most wounds don’t need it after a few days, but keeping the area covered can help protect the cut from injury and may heal faster. Call your doctor if redness gets worse or extends more than half an inch from the incision.
It is important that the modification is done correctly to protect the incision and prevent infection. Some incisions should be kept dry for a few days after surgery using a waterproof bandage or, for maximum protection, a protective bandage to keep moisture and germs out of the shower.
This transparent protector completely covers the base dressing and is 100% waterproof according to laboratory tests. Patients should be aware that exposure to water on a wound may delay healing; if the incision accidentally gets wet, it must be dried quickly and thoroughly. Patients need to make an incision.
