for the most accurate information you should call your surgeon's office and ask to speak to the nurse. he or she can advise you as to what post-op care your surgeon prefers. generally speaking it should be ok to shampoo normally. be careful not to catch a suture with your comb or brush. (ouch! ) assuming you're not allergic to any medications you're probably safe to apply an antibiotic ointment to the wound (such as a generic "triple antibiotic ointment") for a few days. after that you're probably safe to use a+d ointment (which does not contain antibiotics) to promote healing. this ointment is usually found on the diaper rash aisle of any grocery store or drug store. you shouldn't apply any hair product to the area (like mousse or hairspray) and you shouldn't blow-dry the area right around the wound. it's very hard to keep a bandage on a wound that's surrounded by hair and you may not need to keep this covered. if you work with the public (especially with children such as in daycare or school setting or if you work in retail or handle money) then i'd suggest you try to keep the wound covered to avoid allowing germs in. however if you work in an office environment for example you're probably ok to leave the wound uncovered. this shouldn't affect its healing as long as you keep it moist with either the antibiotic ointment or a+d until it scabs over. no matter what wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before you touch or bandage your wound. the wound should scab over within a week or so and it will continue healing for up to a few weeks. once a scab is in place you no longer need to apply any ointment or a bandage. as i said these are general guidelines only. your surgeon may have different preferences and you should consult him or her for instructions. i wish you all the best!
how do you care for an open wound after basal cell cancer surgery on your scalp? . the dr. was not able to completely stitch together the opening left and decided to leave it heal on its own. they stitched together what they could and there is an opening about an inch by 1/3 of an inch big still. being a working woman i need to wash my hair to go to work. how is this cared for a cleaned. also how long does it typically take to heal to the point it does not need a dressing or bandage? .