What should you know about stitches and bandages?

A dressing can absorb light oozing, cushion the wound, and stop clothing or fingers catching on the stitches. The suitable covering depends on the wound site, drainage, movement, and whether the skin is closed. Some wounds can be left uncovered after a clinician confirms this is appropriate; others need protection for longer.

Wash your hands before and after changing a bandage. Use the dressing recommended for your wound, keep it clean, and replace it if it becomes wet, dirty, or loose. Do not pull a dressing that is stuck; moisten it as advised. Avoid soaking the wound and do not apply powders, creams, or antiseptics unless instructed. Keep activities gentle enough that the stitches are not stretched.

Ask for medical advice if drainage soaks through repeatedly, the wound opens, or the dressing causes a rash or increasing pain. Spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus-like drainage, fever, or a bad smell can signal a problem. Seek urgent care for bleeding that continues despite firm pressure, loss of feeling, or reduced movement near the wound.

Ask how often to change the dressing, whether the wound may get wet, which covering to use, and when it can be left uncovered. Clarify how to manage a stuck or soaked bandage and when stitches should be checked or removed.