Caring for your wound
How to look after a cut, graze or wound that has been treated — and what to watch for.
Your wound has been cleaned and treated. Most wounds heal well over the next few days and weeks. Here is how to look after it at home, and the signs that mean you should get it checked.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
These can be signs of infection or another problem and need checking.
- Pain, redness or swelling around the wound is getting worse
- Pus or fluid is leaking from the wound
- The wound feels hot, or red streaks spread out from it
- You feel feverish, shivery or generally unwell
- The wound opens up, or bleeding will not stop with firm pressure
- You cannot move the area normally, or you have numbness or pins and needles near the wound
- Stitches or clips come out earlier than they should
For the first 24–48 hours
- Keep the wound clean and dry, and keep the dressing on as advised.
- After 24–48 hours you can usually shower and gently pat it dry.
- Avoid baths, soaking and swimming until the wound has healed.
- Change a simple dressing if it gets wet or dirty.
- Do not pick at scabs — let them come away on their own.
- For pain, take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you can take them.
How your wound was closed
Your care box says how yours was closed. Let these come away on their own — do not pick at them:
Your exact removal date is in the care box above.
Tetanus & protecting the scar
If your tetanus protection is not up to date, you may need a booster — the team will tell you if so. As the wound heals, a scar will form. Protect a new scar from the sun for several months by covering it or using sunscreen, as sun can make scars darker and slower to fade.