Care After Skin Surgery

You have had skin surgery. This sheet will help you know how to take care of the site when you get home.

• Try to keep the site's dressing dry and in place for 24 hours.
• Wash your hands with soap and water, prior to cleaning the wound site.
• After that 24 hours, cleanse the site with warm soapy water once (or twice) a day. Pat dry the area after washing. Then apply either Vaseline petroleum jelly or Aquaphor, cover with a non-stick (Telfa) gauze pad and paper tape, or a band-aid.
• Do not use pre-medicated band-aids with the antibiotic ointments such as bacitracin or Neosporin.
• If you prefer not to cover the area, please apply Vaseline petroleum jelly several times a day.
• Do not use any other cream or ointments on the site, unless specified by the doctor.
• Keep changing dressing daily until the site is completely healed.
• If you have any bleeding or oozing of the site, gently apply continuous pressure; using a clean gauze, towel, or washcloth; for 15 minutes. The bleeding/oozing should stop with this pressure. If it does not stop, try putting pressure on the site again with ice for 15 minutes. If you cannot get the bleeding/oozing to stop with this pressure, please contact the dermatology clinic at 952-920-3808 and ask to speak with the nurse triage line. If this issue happens after hours, call the same telephone number and you will be connected to the on-call doctor.
• If you have severe swelling, significant redness, pain, draining pus at the wound site, or if you have a fever, please call the phone number, 952-920-3808, for advice. These are normally signs of infection.
• Avoid consuming alcohol and taking ibuprofen, for 48 hours after surgery. It can increase your risk of bleeding.
• Take one to two, 325mg acetaminophen (Tylenol) pills, as needed for pain every four to six hours. Do not take Tylenol if you have liver failure, or severe liver disease.
• If you have not been contacted about your biopsy results within 2 weeks, please call the clinic, 952-920-3808.