WOUND CARE INSTRUCTIONS

In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Wound care questions: call (808) 263-3233 during office hours (see our hours at the bottom of this page).

Email: info@hidermatology.com · 1051 Keolu Drive, Suite 107, Kailua, HI 96734

Your provider will tell you which type of wound you have.

Open Wounds (biopsy or shave removal)

Leave the first bandage dry and in place for 2 days.

After 2 days, it is okay to go back to normal activities. Do not go into the ocean or a pool until your wound is fully healed.
Wash the site daily with mild liquid soap. Do not use bar soap.
Apply ointment (prescription, Vaseline or Aquaphor). If you are prone to infections, please call our office and we will prescribe an ointment.
Cover with a Band-Aid or a non-stick dressing (Telfa) and medical tape. You can buy these at your local drugstore or from our office.
Change the dressing daily.
You may leave the wound open during the day to dry out, but keep it moist overnight once all oozing and bleeding has stopped.
Wounds on the back and legs take longer to heal.
Do not let pets lick or touch your wound.

Leave the first bandage dry and in place for 2 days.

If you have not started already, start the oral antibiotic prescribed to prevent an infection.
Wash the site daily with mild soap. NO BAR SOAP.
CHANGE YOUR TOWEL DAILY. Using the same towel over and over to dry the wound can spread bacteria and cause an infection.
Do not go into the ocean or a pool until your wound is fully healed.
Apply the antibiotic ointment that was prescribed. Neosporin is NOT recommended.
Cover with a Band-Aid or non-stick dressing (Telfa) and medical tape. You can buy these at your local drugstore or from our office.
Clean the wound and change the dressing 1 to 2 times a day.
You may leave the wound open during the day to dry out, but cover it overnight once all oozing and bleeding has stopped.
Normal swelling and pain are greatest on the day of surgery and the day after.
After 2 days, it is okay to resume normal activities and showering.
Do not let your pets lick or touch your wound.
Apply ice packs to facial wounds.
Probiotics are recommended (do not take them at the same time as antibiotics).
Sublingual Arnica tablets are recommended to reduce swelling after surgery.

Leave the first bandage dry and in place for 3 days.

If your provider placed a bolster on the graft site, please DO NOT get the bolster wet until your follow-up appointment. We will remove the bolster in the office.
Follow the same wound care instructions as for sutured wounds (above).
DO NOT try to forcefully remove any scabs, as this may disrupt the graft site.
DO NOT smoke for 3 weeks. Smoking harms wound healing and may cause the graft to die. This includes nicotine and marijuana products.
After one week, the graft site may look pink or dusky in color. This is normal.

Always protect a fresh scar from the sun. Use SPF 30 or higher sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.

Bleeding

If bleeding happens, leave the bandage in place. Raise the site above your heart.
Apply firm pressure for 20 minutes with tightly rolled gauze or a cloth under your fingers.
Add more gauze and tape to the site, or wrap it with an Ace bandage or Coban.
Call our office or your provider, or go to the nearest emergency room if the bleeding does not stop.

Pain

Pain after surgery will be worst on the day of surgery and should improve after that. If your pain suddenly gets much worse, call our office immediately.

Infection

If you have NEW pain and swelling at the wound site 5 to 7 days after surgery, call our office.

This page supplements, but does not replace, the instructions from your provider.