Wound care after skin surgery

Wound care

The following advice is to make sure that any possible problems with your wound are minimised.

• Keep your wound dry for 48 hours. If a dressing has been applied, please remove this after 48 hours.
• Once the dressing has been removed you can apply Vaseline® (from a new pot) to the wound. You may have steristrips over the wound. These do not need to be removed with the dressing and will fall off on their own.
• Curettage wounds will look like a burn and will not have stitches. These wounds can be left uncovered. This type of wound can be slow to heal (4 to 6 weeks). Keep these areas dry for 48 hours and then apply Vaseline® (from a new pot) once or twice a day for 2 to 3 weeks. This will protect the skin.
• If the wound bleeds after you have left the hospital, press on it with a clean tissue for 10 minutes.
• If you are currently taking any blood thinning medication, it may take longer for the bleeding to stop.
• If there is a lot of bleeding and it does not appear to be stopping, please seek medical advice from the practice nurse in your GP’s surgery or the Dermatology Outpatient Nurses (the contact number is at the end of this page). Out of normal working hours please contact NHS 111 for advice.
• If your wound becomes hot, swollen and/or sore, or begins to ooze, please contact your GP for advice. You may have an infection which might require treatment with antibiotics.
• Most wounds are not painful, but if you do have any discomfort, you can take pain relief such as paracetamol. Please follow the dose instructions on the packet.
• If you are unsure about pain relief, please contact your GP or the Dermatology Outpatient Nurses.
• Healing may be delayed if you have diabetes or problems with your immune system.

Contact information

Dermatology Outpatients Nurses

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Tel: 0300 422 8193 or

Tel: 0300 422 8454

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm

NHS 111

Tel: 111