Washing Hands
Please wash your hands thoroughly prior to wound care. Clean between the webs of the fingers and underneath your fingernails as well as the remainder of your hands. Ensure hands are dried well after cleansing. It is not necessary to use antimicrobial soap.
WASH HANDS THROUGHLY PRIOR TO WOUND CARE
Removing the dressing
Take the dressing off in the time specified by the dermatologist or nurse.
Bathing the wound
Bathe the wound twice daily with sterile salt water (1 teaspoon of salt to a cup of boiled water). Use only cotton buds to cleanse the wound.
Ensure that all the dried blood is removed. Do not allow scabbing to form.
Applying ointment
After cleaning place a small amount of antibiotic ointment or Vaseline along the stitch line with a cotton bud, or if there are no stitches, apply over the entire surface.
Covering the wound
Leave the wound uncovered when possible, however, if a dressing is required follow the instructions given to you by the nursing staff.
Showering
Wound may get wet in shower after 24 hours.
Medication
If on antibiotics, take as directed by your doctor. Use Panadol or Panadeine for pain relief rather than Aspirin or Disprin based medication as these thin your blood and make the wound bleed more easily.
Queries
If you have any concerns, please ring the Skin & Cancer Foundation Australia on Monday through to Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm on (02) 88333 000. If it is the weekend, or you cannot return to the clinic and you think there is a problem with your wound, such as an infection, please do the following:
- Go to the GP.
- If started on antibiotics, ask to have a wound swab with a copy of the results sent to the Skin & Cancer Foundation Australia.
- Please ring and inform us of your visit to the GP so we can document this in your file.
- Signs of Infection are redness, tenderness, hot to touch and pus.