There are various methods used in managing acute wounds. Please follow the appropriate guidance on this page to ensure your wound heals as quickly as possible.

• Keep your wound clean and dry.
• Try not to scratch or pick at your wound as this may delay wound healing.
• Avoid contact sports or other activities that may cause the wound to break open again.
• Do not cover your wound with any waterproof dressing unless told to do so by a Doctor / Practitioner as this may cause it to become soggy (wet) and increase the risk of infection.
• The wound may leak some blood stained or yellow fluid in the first 24 hours.

Stitches

• If your dressing gets wet or dirty and you are concerned, please ask advice from your local pharmacy.
• Your stitches should stay dry for 24 hours.
• A light dressing may have been applied; you can remove this after 24 hours, unless you have been advised otherwise.
• After 24 hours you may get the area wet, however do not soak the wound and dab the area dry rather than rubbing with a towel.
• Please contact your health centre the next working day to arrange an appointment with your treatment nurse to remove the stitches.

How long the stitches stay in depends where they are positioned

Wound Glue

• Wound glue forms a ‘scab’ over the wound.
• Do not cover with a dressing unless advised to do so.
• It is important to try and keep the glue dry for 5 days. After 5 days, you may get the area wet, however do not soak the wound and dab the area dry rather than rubbing with a towel.
• The glue will come off like a scab, usually after 7 – 10 days.
• No further treatment is usually advised and the wound should be healed after this time.

Steristrips

• Steri-strips hold the edges of a wound together. If they get wet, they come off, so it is important that they stay dry to ensure the wound heals.
• A light dressing may be applied, please remove this after 24 hours, unless instructed otherwise.
• After 5 days the steri-strips can be removed; this is done by wetting them with a damp cloth and peeling each side towards the centre of the wound and removing them.

Signs of Infection

• Redness spreading from the wound.
• Pus (yellow / green discharge) or increased bleeding from the wound.
• The wound feeling hot to touch.
• Increasing pain.
• A foul smell.

A small amount of clear watery discharge from the wound is normal.