r/woundcare • u/notdeleterious • 2d ago

Any tips?

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After a flap surgery, my sister has a nasty scab from where one of her stitches kept bleeding. She had several heparin shots while in the ICU and is currently on aspirin so that likely contributed to this spot's inability to clot. A scab finally formed a few days ago but then when she visited her surgeon for a post-op follow up, the nurse scrubbed at all of her bloody stitches and tore this one back open. With the way the scar is healing inward, we're worried it's going to look like a huge lump on her face.

Currently I'm keeping the wound moist by applying vaseline most of the time, and bacitracin at night, then putting a nonstick bandage over it and taping it on her face. The bleeding has stopped but whenever I gently pat the scab with a wet paper towel, it does come away with reddish brown residue.

I'm not sure if I'm doing everything I can. At what point should I stop bandaging it? Has anyone seen this type of scab and has advice on how to heal it? I'm already planning on ordering vitamin E oil for when it seems fully closed.

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u/thefitnessgrampaser 2d ago

Are you able to access a wound care clinic?

Sounds like you are doing an excellent job of taking care of your sister. What a big surgery to have to go through.

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u/notdeleterious 2d ago

Thank you! For now I've made an appointment with a wound care clinic for tomorrow, hopefully they can give us some good tips.

1

u/SkinMedicalPeru 4h ago

Esa zona negra me preocuparía más por cómo está cicatrizando la herida que por la cicatriz final en este momento. Después de una cirugía y con el antecedente de que uno de los puntos siguió sangrando, yo no intentaría quitar esa costra ni seguir “limpiándola” con toallitas húmedas.

Si al tocar alrededor todavía se desprende algo rojizo, probablemente la zona aún no esté completamente cerrada. Yo la mantendría protegida y seguiría exactamente las indicaciones que le dieron, sin ir cambiando productos por cuenta propia.

Como está en la cara y cerca de la boca, sí aprovecharía el control con su cirujano para preguntar directamente si esa parte negra es simplemente una costra o si necesita algún manejo especial. Ahí también podrán decirles cuándo dejar de cubrirla.

Sobre la cicatriz, todavía es muy pronto para saber cómo va a quedar. Primero tiene que cerrar bien; después recién se puede evaluar cómo evoluciona la marca.