About your visit
Your wound has been cleaned and glued. The wound normally heals within five to ten days, and the skin glue will disappear by itself. Your wound may have been covered by a bandage and you may have received a vaccination against tetanus.
When you get home
Contact your general practitioner at signs of infection
Keep an eye out for signs of infection until the wound has healed. Contact your general practitioner or dial 1813 to reach the medical helpline outside your general practitioner’s opening hours if you experience one or several of the following symptoms:
- Redness, warmth or swelling at the site of the wound.
- Throbbing or pulsing pains.
- Red stripes on the skin extending from the site of the wound.
- Wet or foul-smelling bandage.
- Fever.
Take pain-relieving medicine if you are in pain
You should take pain-relieving medicine if you are in pain. Pain-relieving medicine can be bought over the counter. Take only the amount of pain reliever recommended on the package. Contact your general practitioner if you need help managing the pain.
Tetanus vaccination
If you received a tetanus vaccination at the hospital, it is normal for the skin around the area to become red, swollen or tender. This will pass after about a week.
Keep the bandage clean and dry
You should keep the bandage clean and dry. Avoid touching the bandage for the first two days. The risk of infection increases if the bandage gets wet. Change the bandage if it gets wet.
Only take showers
You may take showers, but make sure that the wound does not get wet as the glue will dissolve in water. The glue can tolerate a little dampness though. Avoid baths, swimming pools and swimming in the sea until the wound has healed, as this increases the risk of infection. Carefully dab the wound with a clean towel or washcloth when drying.
Do not scratch the wound
Avoid scratching your wound if it itches. Let the scab fall off by itself to reduce the risk of infection.
Avoid soap and disinfectants
Avoid cleaning the wound with soap or disinfectants, e.g. chlorhexidine or hand disinfectant. If we have so advised, you may in some cases use a mild, pH-neutral soap. Make sure to rinse thoroughly with water.
Do not use cream or ointment on the wound
Avoid using cream or ointment directly on the wound while the glue is on.
Practical precautions
Avoid direct sunlight
You should avoid getting direct sunlight on the wound as long as the skin is red. The skin usually remains red for six months to a year. During this period, the skin is especially at risk of sunburn and may darken. The dark colour will not disappear. We recommend using a sunscreen with a high SPF or wearing clothes that cover your scar.
Avoid handling food if the wound is on your hand
If the wound is on your hand and you work with handling food, you should discuss with your employer whether you can continue handling food or if you should wait until the wound has healed. If you work with food, you should use gloves.
Worth knowing