Sterile Tape Wound – How to Care

Some cuts and wounds can be closed using sterile tape, also called skin adhesive strips. Skin adhesive strips can be used for shallow (superficial) and simple cuts, wounds, lacerations, and some surgical incisions.

These strips act in place of stitches, or in addition to stitches, to hold the edges of the wound together to allow for better healing. Unlike stitches, the adhesive strips do not require needles or anesthetic medicine for placement.

The strips usually fall off on their own as the wound is healing. It is important to take proper care of your wound at home while it heals.

• Try to keep the area around your wound clean and dry. Do not allow the adhesive strips to get wet for the first 12 hours.
• Do not use any soaps or ointments on the wound for the first 12 hours.
• If a bandage (dressing) has been applied, keep it dry.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how often to change the dressing.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your dressing. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
  • Leave adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
• Do not scratch, rub, or pick at the wound area.
• Protect the wound from further injury until it is healed.
• Protect the wound from sun and tanning bed exposure while it is healing, and for several weeks after healing.
• Check the wound every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • More fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your adhesive strips become soaked with blood or fall off before the wound has healed. The tape will need to be replaced.
• You have a fever.

Get help right away if:

• You have chills.
• You develop a rash after the strips are applied.
• You have a red streak that goes away from the wound.
• 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.
• Your wound breaks open.