Incision Care: A Comprehensive Guide to Post-Surgical Healing

Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: October 2026

Proper incision care helps a surgical wound heal and keeps it from getting infected. Keep the site clean, follow the bathing rules for the way your surgeon closed the wound, and check it every day for warning signs such as spreading redness, discharge, or a fever [1].

Quick Answer: What is incision care?

Incision care is cleaning and protecting a surgical wound so it heals well and doesn't become infected. Wash your hands before and after touching it, inspect it daily, protect it and avoid straining activities. Most incisions heal in about two weeks. Call your provider for signs of infection, including fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, because untreated infections can become life-threatening. [1]

What the research says

• Showering before suture removal did not raise infection rates in a systematic review. A systematic review of nine studies (2,150 patients) found no increase in surgical site infection in people who were allowed to shower or bathe before their sutures were removed, compared with people told to keep the site dry. Always follow your own surgeon's instructions, which may differ for your procedure (Dayton et al., The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 2013 [2]).

• Leaving a dressing on too long may raise infection risk, but the evidence is weak. A network meta-analysis of four studies (878 patients) found a significantly higher relative risk of wound infection when dressings were left in place for more than 4.5 days than when they were changed at 48 hours (relative risk 3.18, 95% CI 1.22 to 8.33). The authors graded the evidence quality as generally very low (Hwang et al., Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2024 [3]).

• No skin-closure method clearly prevented infection better than the others. A Cochrane review of 66 randomized trials (7,487 participants) found no clear difference in surgical site infection between subcuticular sutures and any other skin-closure method, including staples and tissue adhesives. The certainty of the evidence ranged from high to very low (Goto et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020 [4]).

What Is a Surgical Incision?

An incision is a cut that's made in your skin during a surgery or procedure, also known as a surgical wound. The size, location, and number of incisions vary with the type of surgery. Once the surgeon closes the incision, the wound needs special care and time to heal [1].

How Incisions Are Closed

Your surgeon or healthcare provider will close an incision with one of the following [1]:

• Sutures (stitches): surgical thread holds your tissue together. Dissolvable (absorbable) stitches disappear into your skin as the site heals. Nonabsorbable stitches are stronger, but your provider has to remove them once the wound heals.

• Staples: surgical staples close line-like (linear) wounds on the scalp, arms, and legs. They're made of stainless steel and titanium, or plastic if you have a metal allergy.

• Adhesives: special tapes and glues hold the skin together. Providers may use them for needle wounds, for children's wounds, or in addition to deep sutures. They're painless, and a common adhesive tape is Steri-Strips.

What Is a Dressing?

A dressing is another name for a bandage. A sterile dressing keeps your surgical wound clean and dry while it heals. Change it according to your healthcare provider's instructions, because how often depends on the type and location of your wound. You may need to change it daily or every few days [1].

Daily Care and Hygiene

Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions, which may include [1]:

• Washing your hands before and after touching your incisions.

• Inspecting your incisions every day for signs of infection, such as swelling, pus, or color changes.

• Looking for bleeding. If an incision starts to bleed, apply direct and constant pressure, and call your provider about any unexpected bleeding.

• Avoiding tight clothing that might rub on your incisions.

• Avoiding activities that can interfere with healing, like running, strength training, and household chores that involve twisting, bending, or lifting.

• Avoiding scratching. Itching is normal as you heal, but if it gets worse instead of better after a few days, call your provider.

Bathing With a Surgical Incision

Your healthcare provider may give you specific bathing instructions so you don't irritate your incisions. These are the general rules for each type of closure [1]:

• Stitches and staples: you can wash or shower 24 hours after surgery unless your provider says otherwise. Clean the area with mild soap and water and gently pat it dry with a clean cloth.

• Steri-Strips: you can wash or shower with them in place. Clean with mild soap and water and gently pat dry with a clean towel or cloth. Don't pull, tug, or rub the strips.

• Skin glue (tissue adhesive): keep it dry for the first five days. The glue is waterproof, but cover the area while bathing until the five days are up, then bathe normally. Avoid soaking the site in water, because showers are the best way to wash. Pat the wound dry if it gets wet.

How to Change a Wound Dressing

Your provider will usually show you how to change your dressing, and you should call them if you have questions. You'll need gauze pads, surgical tape, scissors, and paper towels or a clean cloth. Disposable medical gloves are optional [1].

1. Prepare the area: clean a table or counter with soap and water or sanitizing wipes, cover it with a clean cloth or paper towel, move pets to another room, and remove any jewelry.

2. Remove the old dressing: gently take it off your skin as instructed by your provider.

3. Clean and rinse the incision: use gentle, unscented soap and water. If you shower, you can clean the incision then and apply the new dressing afterward. Check the incision for swelling or color changes.

4. Apply a new dressing: if your surgeon prescribed a topical ointment, apply a very thin layer. Hold a clean, sterile gauze pad by a corner, place it over the incision, tape all four sides to your skin, and wash your hands again.

Healing Timeline and When Closures Come Off

• Overall healing: in most cases an incision heals in about two weeks, and more complex incisions take longer [1].

• Stitches and staples: your provider removes them when the wound heals or closes, which could take anywhere from three to 14 days depending on the size, depth, and location of the wound [1].

• Dissolvable stitches: they usually dissolve in one to two weeks, though they can last a few months. Don't try to remove them at home [1].

• Steri-Strips: they fall off on their own within two weeks. If they start to curl, trim them instead of peeling them. After two weeks, gently remove any that remain [1].

• Skin glue: it dries and falls off within five to 10 days. Keep the site out of direct sunlight during that time [1].

Staying active improves healing by increasing blood flow, and short walks may help if your provider approves. Avoid lifting, pulling, straining exercises, or sports for a month after surgery or until your provider approves them, which may include going back to work or school [1].

Monitoring for Infection

The biggest risk for an incision is infection. An infection happens when bacteria enter the surgical wound and keep it from healing. Left untreated, infections can spread throughout the body (sepsis) and are life-threatening [1].

Signs of an Infection

• Thick, cloudy discharge that is white or cream in color.

• A bad odor from the incision.

• The incision line opening up, getting deeper, longer, or wider.

• Redness or color changes in the skin that extend beyond the edge of the incision.

• A warm temperature around the incision.

• Fever (greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.4 degrees Celsius), sweating, or chills.

Pain, swelling, warmth, or fluid oozing from the wound can also signal an infection, so visit a healthcare provider if you notice them [1].

Who Is at Higher Risk of Infection?

You may be at greater risk if you [1]:

• Have diabetes.

• Have a history of smoking tobacco products.

• Have excess weight.

• Experience poor nutrition.

• Have a weakened immune system, for example during chemotherapy or while taking immune-suppressing medicines.

• Had a recent emergency surgery or a long surgical procedure.

How to Reduce Your Risk

• Wash your hands before and after touching your incisions.

• Follow your healthcare provider's instructions.

• Change your dressing as instructed.

• Avoid removing tape strips, picking at staples, glue, or stitches, or scratching your skin.

• Keep your incisions dry.

When to Call Your Healthcare Provider

Call your healthcare provider if you have [1]:

• Bleeding that doesn't stop with pressure.

• Color changes to the skin around the wound.

• Increasing wound size.

• Drainage from the wound.

• A fever.

Don't try to stitch a wound together yourself at home. If a wound won't stop bleeding, is deep, or shows signs of infection, see a healthcare provider right away [1].

Bottom Line

Caring for your incision as instructed promotes healing, minimizes scarring, and lowers your risk of infection. The most useful habits are simple: clean hands, a daily look at the wound, the right bathing routine for your type of closure, and a quick call to your provider when something changes.

Your next step: check your discharge instructions to confirm how your incision was closed and how often your dressing should be changed, and contact your surgical team early if anything about the wound worries you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a surgical incision to heal?

In most cases a surgical incision heals in about two weeks. More complex incisions take longer, and your provider will guide you at your follow-up checkups.

Is it normal for an incision to itch?

Yes. Itching is normal as an incision heals. If it gets worse instead of better after a few days, call your healthcare provider, and avoid scratching the wound.

When are stitches or staples usually removed?

Your provider removes them when the wound heals or closes. Depending on the size, depth, and location of the wound, that could take anywhere from three to 14 days.

Can I put ointment on my incision?

Only if your surgeon prescribed one. In that case, apply a very thin layer as directed. Ask your surgeon before using any other product on the wound.

What should I do if my Steri-Strips start to peel?

If they start to curl before it's time, trim them instead of peeling them off. They fall off on their own within two weeks, and you can gently remove any that remain after that.

Can I soak in a bath with an incision?

Avoid soaking the site in water. Showers are the best way to wash, especially with skin glue, which should stay dry for the first five days. Ask your surgeon when soaking is safe.

What should I do if my incision starts to bleed?

Apply direct and constant pressure to the incision. If the bleeding doesn't stop with pressure, or you have any unexpected bleeding, call your healthcare provider.

How often should I change my bandage?

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions. Depending on the type and location of the wound, you may need to change it daily or every few days.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis happens when an infection spreads throughout the body. It's life-threatening, and proper incision care helps prevent the infections that can lead to it.

Does proper care reduce scarring?

Proper care makes you more likely to have minimal scarring, because it helps prevent infection and shortens healing time.

References

1. Cleveland Clinic. Incision & Surgical Wound Care. Cleveland Clinic. November 15, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15709-incision-care

2. Dayton P, Feilmeier M, Sedberry S. Does postoperative showering or bathing of a surgical site increase the incidence of infection? A systematic review of the literature. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. 2013;52(5):612-614. PMID 23587992. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jfas.2013.02.016

3. Hwang R, Crook DL, Allan CS, et al. A network meta-analysis of the timing of wound dressing removal. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 2024;107(4):235-241. PMID 39081121. https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2023.0083

4. Goto S, Sakamoto T, Ganeko R, et al. Subcuticular sutures for skin closure in non-obstetric surgery. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2020;4(4):CD012124. PMID 32271475. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012124.pub2

Medical disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always follow your surgical team's instructions for your own incision. The clinical information in this guide reflects source material last reviewed in November 2023.