wound treatment

Dopn't let it dry out.

by donr - 2018-06-19 01:25:49

 Dry does not mean water.  Try some petroleum jelly on it for a week or so.  that wll keep it hydrated from the inside & allow it to heal faster , smoother & better looking.  If you want, try some neosporin or triple antibiotic.  The main help it will give you is from the petroleum jelly base, not the antibiotic.  If there are no suture holes, there are no pathways to the inside of the body. that thing is already sealed & has been since about the second day.

Donr

Wound healing

by Selwyn - 2018-06-19 13:29:35

For such a thin, surgical wound, I would leave well along until the scab has separated. Keep the area clean. Avoid soaps, detergents and other irritants. 

Any fiddling with the surface ( such as rubbing, especially with something non sterile) leaves you open to introducing infection. A dry, non adherant dressing can be applied to protect the wound from clothing rubbing. Any hydration encourages the growth of bacteria.  Try to keep the wound from going soggy- such as bathing ( cover the area with a waterproof dressing when showering if available. Pat dry the area, do not rub ( as this disturbs the scab which is a perfect dressing).  Do not pick off the  scab- let it come away by itself. 

Once the scab has seperated wounds are red and take 6-9 months for the redness to fade. A little petroleum jelly can be applied only once the scab has started to  come away ( often the skin is dry, the scab cracking), however if you try to remove/soften the scab before the underlying wound has healed you risk introducing infection. 

Wound strength is about 100% after about 6 weeks, or sooner. Avoid over stretching the area until wound strength has developed. 

Hope this advice  helps, it is based on a lot of experience. 

Time & Mederma or Vitamin E Oil

by Kcambridge - 2018-06-20 08:55:17

Hi there,

Its been two years since my pacemaker was first implanted. I too had an ugly “zipper” at first.

Once your skin has healed up, Mederma or simply vitamin e oil are generally great over the counter products that are topically applied and do a great job of reducing scars.

That said, I havent been using either product for more than a year (Mederma is not recommended for pregnant & breastfeeding women), and my scar on its own has faded to the point that it’s hardly noticeable from a distance.

I will likely start using some product again in the future, but time (and generous application of sunscreen) has made a world of difference.

Good luck!