How to Apply Steri Strips

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Steri strips are adhesive strips that are used to keep small or shallow wounds closed so they can heal. Before you apply Steri strips to your wound, you’ll have to make sure the skin around it is clean and dry, as covering a dirty wound increases your risk of infection. Similarly, a wound from a dirty source, like farm equipment, needs to be left uncovered to heal from the inside out. When you’re applying the strips, make sure they are parallel to one another and that you hold the wound closed. After you’ve applied the strips, keep the wound area dry. If the strips are hard to remove, you can soak them in warm water to make them come off easier.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Skin Around the Wound

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  1. Remove any blood or dirt with rubbing alcohol or a cleanser like Phisoderm. Put the cleanser on a clean cloth and swab it across the area around the wound. [1]
  2. If your skin has any moisture on it, the adhesive might not work properly. Pat the area dry with a dry, clean towel or cloth. [2]
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  3. A Benzoin tincture can help increase the adhesion between your skin and the Steri strip. Apply some tincture to a cotton swab and swab the area around the wound. [3]
  4. 4
    Visit your doctor if your wound is deep or very dirty. It's important that your wound is completely clean before you cover it with Steri strips. Otherwise, you may develop an infection under the Steri strips that can continue to worsen. See your doctor if your wound is deep or hard to clean so that it will heal correctly. [4]
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Placing the Strips

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  1. Pull each strip up off the card by placing your index finger under the end and pulling up. [5] You can pull them off one at a time or three at once by using your index, middle, and ring fingers under the edges of three strips.
  2. Place the index finger of your hand that's not holding the Steri strips on one side of the wound. Then place the thumb of the same hand on the other side of the wound and press together. [6]
  3. Applying the first strip in the middle of the wound ensures that the wound closes evenly. Then apply the rest of the strips out from the original one in the middle. It doesn’t matter if you move to the right or left (or top or bottom) first. [7]
  4. While holding the wound closed, place one end of the strip above the wound. Press down as you lay the strip over the wound and secure the other end under the wound. There should be an even amount of strip above and below the wound. [8]
  5. How many strips you need depends on the size of the wound. There should be an 1/8th of an inch (1/3rd of a cm) between each strip and they should all be applied the same way. Apply enough strips so that the wound is closed all the way across. [9]
  6. The strips that are placed parallel to the wound prevent the ends of the original strips from lifting. This ensures that your wound has time to heal before the strips start to come up. Place the strips ½ inch (1 cm) from the original strip ends. [10]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Caring for the Strips

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  1. Most head wounds heal more quickly than other areas of the body. Check the strips every day to make sure the ends aren’t coming up. If they are, trim them with scissors and apply another strip parallel to the wound. [11]
  2. Wounds over joints are the most likely to heal slowly because the movement of joints continually opens the wound. Leave the strips on for 10 to 14 days. [12]
  3. If your wound is not on your head or over a joint, leave the strips on for 5 to 10 days. As your wound heals, it will turn a light pink color. [13] Check for that color before you remove the strips.
    • If you notice that your skin is red or painful, it may be infected. Remove the Steri strips to check for an infection. If you think your wound is infected, visit your doctor to make sure you get proper treatment so your wound can heal.
    • The strips should fall off naturally after about 14 days. [14]
  4. If you get the strips wet at all, they can come off. Keep the wound dry for the period the strips should stay on. [15] You can shower as long as you can keep the wound out of the water.
    • If you can’t keep the wound out of the water, you’ll need to take sponge baths until the wound heals.
  5. By the end of the period your strips should be on, they’ll probably be easy to gently peel off. If they resist coming over, dip a cloth in warm water and hold it over the strips for 5 to 10 minutes. Once you remove the cloth, the strips should pull off. If they don’t, moisten them again. [16]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Steri strips were applied after the staples were removed from my knee replacement surgical wound, and the doctor said I could take a shower but not a tub bath. Is this correct?
    Danielle Jacks, MD
    Cardiothoracic Surgeon
    Danielle Jacks, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Asante Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons in Medford, Oregon. She has over seven years of experience in general surgery, and completed her surgical residency in 2021. In 2023, she completed a fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, Louisiana. She received her MD from Oregon Health and Science University in 2016.
    Danielle Jacks, MD
    Cardiothoracic Surgeon
    Expert Answer
    It's okay to take a shower while you have steri strips because getting them wet won't damage them. However, they may start to peel at the edges after they get wet. While showering is okay, don't soak in a bath or hot tub until your doctor says it's okay.
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      Warnings

      • Don’t apply Steri strips to deep wounds or wounds that have dirt in them that you can’t remove. For those types of wounds, see a doctor.
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      • Don’t yank off Steri strips. The adhesive in them is strong and they can tear your skin.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1051.aspx?CategoryID=72
      2. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1051.aspx?CategoryID=72
      3. ↑ https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=717ec701-a352-4477-88bf-28f308b2934e&type=display
      4. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1051.aspx?CategoryID=72
      5. ↑ https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1442030O/3m-steri-strip-skin-closure-brochure-6pp-a4-low-res.pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1051.aspx?CategoryID=72
      7. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1051.aspx?CategoryID=72
      8. ↑ https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1442030O/3m-steri-strip-skin-closure-brochure-6pp-a4-low-res.pdf
      9. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1051.aspx?CategoryID=72
      1. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1051.aspx?CategoryID=72
      2. ↑ https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1442030O/3m-steri-strip-skin-closure-brochure-6pp-a4-low-res.pdf
      3. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15709-incision-care
      4. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000741.htm
      5. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15709-incision-care
      6. ↑ https://pch.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/Files/Hospitals/PCH/General-documents/Patients-and-Families/Health-facts/Steristrips.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/leaflet/changing-your-wound-dressing/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To apply steri strips, start by taking the strips off the card and holding the skin on either side of the wound closed. Apply the first strip at the middle of the wound to ensure that it closes evenly. Then, apply the rest of the strips out from the original one in the middle, making sure they’re all parallel with about ⅛ of an inch between each strip. For head wounds, keep the strips in place for 3-5 days. Alternatively, for cuts over joints, don’t take the strips off for 10-14 days. For all other cuts, leave the strips in place for 5-10 days. To learn how to remove the steri strips, keep reading!

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