stitch/steri strip care and removal?!


Question: Stitch/steri strip care and removal?
Hello! I just had a sebaceous cyst removed from the left side of my neck yesterday. I have removable stitches and Steri-Strips over them, and the doctor put a dressing of gauze and SureSite (a clear sticky film that covers the gauze). They also handed me foil packs of Vaseline. I'm not sure what to do at this point. When do I remove the gauze? And I know I'm not supposed to touch the Steri-Strip and let them fall off on their own, but should I be putting the Vaseline on the Steri-Strip? I'm going in to have the stitches removed next Wednesday 3/2.

Answers:

Hi, I'm an O.R. nurse. What we usually tell people is to leave the gauze on till you are ready to shower, take it off, leave the steri-strips alone and let them fall off by themselves in a few days. The gauze is just there for any potential oozing. Your wound site will be closed (not healed, but closed) in a few days so if the steri-strips come off in the shower, it's alright. I've haven't heard of giving Vaseline before, we usually recommend an antibiotic cream or ointment to put on the sutures to prevent infection. Something along the lines of Polysporin or similar with an antibiotic in it would be preferable. Also, it's not a bad idea to keep the suture line covered until the stitches come out. A large bandage should do fine.
Btw, I had a sebaceous cyst removed from my back and that was the way I handled it. Hope this helps!

I am an Operating Room Nurse.




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