What happens if stitches get wet

Make sure you pat the area dry afterwards. Some dressings are waterproof, so you could wet your dressing lightly — for example, with the spray from a shower.

For more information, read our common health question: Is it better to have a bath or shower after surgery? If your stitches get wet accidentally, simply dry the area immediately with a clean towel and make sure all the moisture around the stitches is soaked up. If your sutures are not the dissolvable type, see a doctor or nurse when it is time for them to be removed.

Do it at the right time — if you have the stitches taken out too soon, the wound might not be healed properly. If you leave them in too long, they can be more difficult to remove and increase the risk of scarring. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Sutures are a joining of the edges of a wound by stitching or a similar process.

Sutures can sometimes be called stitches. It is important to care for your sutures to help the healing process. Read more on WA Health website. Different types of wounds require different types of care, depending on whether they have resulted from surgery, punctures, burns, tears or ulcers. Read more on myDr website. A perineal tear is a laceration of the skin, muscles and other soft tissues that separate the vaginal opening and the anus back passage.

Read more on Australasian Birth Trauma Association website. Page last reviewed: 6 March Next review due: 6 March Home Common health questions Accidents, first aid and treatments Back to Accidents, first aid and treatments. Can I get my stitches wet in the bath or shower? Try to keep your stitches dry for at least 48 hours after surgery. When can I have a bath or shower after surgery? After 48 hours, surgical wounds can get wet without increasing the risk of infection. At the time of publication, the full text of the original article was available free of charge.

Heal C et al. Can sutures get wet? Prospective randomised controlled trial of wound management in general practice. BMJ May 6;