Skin Tear Care Instructions

A skin tear is a wound in which the top layer of skin peels off. To repair the skin, your doctor may use:

• Tape.
• Skin adhesive strips.

A bandage (dressing) may also be placed over the tape or skin adhesive strips.

How to care for your skin tear

• Clean the wound as told by your doctor. You may be told to keep the wound dry for the first few days. If you are told to clean the wound:
  • Wash the wound with mild soap and water or a salt–water (saline) solution.
  • Rinse the wound with water to remove all soap.
  • Do not rub the wound dry. Let the wound air dry.
• Change any dressings as told by your doctor. This includes changing the dressing if it gets wet, gets dirty, or starts to smell bad.
• Do not scratch or pick at the wound.
• Protect the injured area until it has healed.
• Check your wound every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • More fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take or apply it as told by your doctor. Do not stop using the antibiotic even if your condition gets better.

General instructions

• Keep the bandage dry as told by your doctor.
• Do not take baths, swim, or do anything that puts your wound underwater until your doctor says it is okay.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

• You have more redness, swelling, or pain around your wound.
• You have more fluid or blood coming from your wound.
• Your wound feels warm to the touch.
• You have pus or a bad smell coming from your wound.

Get help right away if:

• You have a red streak that goes away from the skin tear.
• You have a fever and chills and your symptoms suddenly get worse.