Download Article
Help your body recover from stitches after surgery
Download Article
Stitches are usually performed on deep cuts or wounds or following an operation, and they require proper upkeep and daily cleaning to ensure you do not get a scar from the stitches. Everyone’s skin heals differently and sometimes you are left with stitch marks or scarring due to stitches; however, there are several methods you can try to reduce the appearance of the stitch marks and prevent any long-term scarring.
Things You Should Know
- Keep your stitches clean, and cover them with a dry, sterile bandage during the day. Apply any ointments or antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor.
- Cover the stitches with silicone pads to apply constant pressure, and protect the area with sunscreen to help it heal without further damage.
- Once your stitches have been removed, massage the area several times a day with your fingers for 15-30 seconds at a time to break down any remaining collagen.
Steps
-
Keep the stitch marks covered and clean during the day. Though you may think allowing your stitches to breathe by keeping them uncovered will help to speed up healing, doing this can delay healing by as much as 50 percent. Moisture and wetness can prevent a scab from forming and lead to prolonged healing or an infection. Use a dry, sterile bandage to cover the stitch marks as they heal. [1] X Research source- Your doctor may give you an antibiotic ointment or advise you to use an over the counter ointment like Neosporin. This will help to prevent infection and encourage your stitch marks to heal fast. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source
- Use a fresh bandage every time you apply the ointment to the marks. You can switch to plain petroleum jelly after a week of using the ointment to encourage new skin to grow over the stitch marks.
-
Use silicone pads to help the marks heal properly. Apply constant pressure to the stitch marks by using silicone sheet pads, such as Curad Scar Therapy Cosmetic Pads, ReJuveness Pure Silicone Sheets, and Syprex scar sheets. This can help the marks to heal and flatten any scarring. [3] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source- Many silicone pads are made to allow you to cut them to fit the shape of your stitch marks.
Advertisement -
Do not apply vitamin E or hydrogen peroxide to the marks. Despite common belief, vitamin E has been shown by studies to prevent wounds from healing, rather than encourage healing. Some people may also develop an allergic reaction to vitamin E. Put medicated ointment or antibiotic cream on the stitch marks instead of vitamin E gel. [4] X Research source- Though applying hydrogen peroxide to open cuts or marks can help sanitize the area, hydrogen peroxide has been known to destroy new skin cell growth and slow down your body’s healing process.
-
Protect the stitch marks from the sun by using sunscreen. The sun’s ultraviolet light can have a damaging effect on your stitch marks and slow down the healing process. Lather up your skin, including your stitch marks, with sunscreen every morning before you go outside. [5] X Research source- Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30.
-
Massage the area once the stitch marks have healed. Massaging your healed stitch marks will help to break down any bands of collagen that have attached to the underlying tissue. [6] X Research source- You should gently massage the area with lotion in a circular motion for 15 to 30 seconds several times a day.
Advertisement
-
Get your stitches removed within a week. Talk to your doctor about removing the external stitches before they leave track marks, which are the small bumps that appear on either side of the incision. If possible, have your doctor remove the external stitches after one week to prevent any permanent scarring. -
Talk to your doctor about laser treatments. For a more serious professional option, consider using targeted laser treatment to remove the stitch marks or stitch scarring. Using laser treatment on fresh scars, within six to eight weeks of the injury, can lead to a more effective treatment and removal of the scar. There are two types of laser treatments: [7] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source- Pulsed dye lasers: This is a non-ablative laser treatment that uses an intense, targeted burst of light. The heat is then absorbed by the blood vessels in your skin and can help to improve the texture and thickness of scars. It can also reduce any redness around the scar.
- Fractional ablative lasers: This treatment pokes small holes into the scar. This stimulates collagen production and can remodel the scar to appear less noticeable. This type of laser treatment is recommended for shallow scars.
- Most laser treatments will require multiple treatment sessions and can cost between $300 to $600 per a session.
-
See your doctor if the stitch marks become red, irritated, or swollen. If you experience any of these symptoms, as well as fever and increased pain around the stitch marks, you should go see your doctor. The stitch marks may be infected or you may have had an allergic reaction to the antibacterial cream. [8] X Research source- Your doctor will need to examine and treat the stitch marks to prevent further infection or complications.
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/S_T/Suture-care
- ↑ http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0601/p2647.html
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2918339/
- ↑ https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Citation/1997/12000/Vitamin_E_and_Wound_Healing.43.aspx
- ↑ http://www.emedicinehealth.com/removing_stitches/page4_em.htm#after_removing_stitches_procedure
- ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/breast-cancer-surgery/at-home/scar-massage
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/scars-stretch-marks/laser-treatment-scar
- ↑ http://www.emedicinehealth.com/removing_stitches/page5_em.htm#when_to_seek_medical_care
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To get rid of stitch marks, cover them with a clean, dry bandage each day, which speeds up the healing process. If your doctor has prescribed you with an ointment, put a bandage over the area after applying the ointment to help keep the marks clean. Another way to speed up healing and reduce scarring is to apply silicon pads to your stitch marks. When you go out in the sun, apply a strong sunscreen to your stitch marks, since sunburn will damage your skin more. Avoid using untested treatments, such as vitamin E and hydrogen peroxide, since they actually prevent wounds from healing. For tips on how to discuss alternative treatment options with your doctor, keep reading!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 287,395 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "My son accidentally got an incised wound lateral to left eyebrow. Being a doctor, this article is really helpful for me to provide a better care and treatment." ..." more
Advertisement
100%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"My son accidentally got an incised wound lateral to left eyebrow. Being a doctor, this article is really helpful for me to provide a better care and treatment."
..."
more
"Using silicone pads on the stitch helped me a lot. And I actually found out that applying sunscreen on the stitch would help it heal itself."
..."
more
"Very good. I will use first remedy you suggested, Neosporin. "
