How to Deal With Post-Op Itching

Whether you are having a scar revision surgery, liposuction, or a breast augmentation, one of the hardest parts about any of these procedures is the recovery. Not only will you be encouraged to lay in bed for a few days, but you won’t be able to get back into your normal workout routine for at least another week or two. And although those things can put a damper on your lifestyle, nothing is quite as bad is having to deal with post-op itching. To make sure that you don’t get a bacterial infection while healing, this article will list a few ways to deal with the itchiness. Read on to learn more.

Don’t Scratch Around the Stitches

You know not to scratch the stitches themselves (because they can pop open) but you may think that as long as you’re not touching the stitches, you’re okay. However, by even scratching near your stitches, you are putting yourself at risk of a bacterial infection. Because your fingernails are known to harbor germs and bacteria, using them to scratch the area can cause an infection.

Use Lotion

You can use a topical ointment like Benadryl or Calamine lotion around your stitches and the incision site. However, you don’t want to put the cream on the stitches or incision site themselves. After about one week, you can put the Benadryl or Calamine directly onto the incision site without having to worry about it interfering with the healing process.

Keep It Clean

The cleaner your incision site is, the faster it will heal, and you can get rid of the itchiness. Depending on the type of surgery you had done, consult the pamphlet that we sent you home with regarding how to clean it. As a good rule of thumb, use clean hands, soap, and lukewarm water.

Recovering from surgery can be difficult— especially when you are dealing with itchy skin. By using the tips above, you can hopefully find comfort and relief from your itchiness in no time. To learn more about recovery or to schedule a consultation, contact Dr. Larry Weinstein today!

Posted in Body Procedures on July 30th, 2017

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