Stitches

How can I care for stitches?

I just cut myself at work and I just got 6 stitches..I was wondering how should i care for them so it doesn't leave a nasty scar as I have very sensitive skin and scar very very easily..Any advice? Thanks

Public Comments

1. Keep them moisturized. Dry skin tends to leave more visible markings. You can try things like Maderma or Cocoa butter.
2. Don't get the wound wet for 24 hours after the sutures were put in. After that, I'd say clean them once a day. To do this, you should put some hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball and clean outwards from the center of the cut (this prevents germs from getting dragged into the wound). Apply a thin layer of Antibiotic ointment like Neosporin and then put a bandage on. The most important thing to prevent scarring is to keep the wound clean, dry, and out of the sun. After about 4 days, you should be able to let the stitches air out a bit, but don't keep them uncovered if they could get snagged on anything or be exposed to anything besides fresh air. Like I said though, the most important thing is to avoid too much sun exposure and after you get the stitches removed don't ever pick at the cut, that will increase the chance of scarring or infection.
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4. bathe them with salt.