My stitches are soooo itchy!!!
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free skin care · Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:19 am

I had a mole removed from my back last week and the doctor used 3 internal and 5 external stitches to close up the hole. It's not a skin cancer, just abnormal cells they want to be conservative about. I will have the stitches removed a week from tomorrow.

In the meantime, as the wound heals the itching is driving me insane! Per the post-op instructions, I've been cleaning it every day with peroxide and applying neosporin, then covering with an adhesive bandage, basically a giant band-aid.

The wound itself is very itchy, and now the surrounding skin is itchy, red and irritated from pulling the bandage off everyday.

Is emu oil the best thing to help with the itch? Do you think it's safe to use emu oil on the actual stitches until they are removed?

TIA for your help.

free skin care · Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:34 pm

Yes, emu oil is safe to use on the stiches and it will really help with the itching.

free skin care · Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:27 pm

I seem to remember reading that it should NOT be used on open wounds, granted the stitches are holding it closed but, I personally would not run the risk of infecting it.

If you have a solid scab over the stiches I think it would be ok at that point, vaseline is a good option if its still open, it should help with the itching and help your wound stay clean.

free skin care · Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:31 pm

[quote="vonstella"]I seem to remember reading that it should NOT be used on open wounds, granted the stitches are holding it closed but, I personally would not run the risk of infecting it.

D'oh...too late, I already did it. It really, really helped with the itching on both the actual wound and the skin around it. But I think I'll stick with Vaseline or Neosporin on the stitches until they come out.

Now the problem is that I'm all oily and I can't put a bandage back on, so I have to sit here with my shirt pulled up and I can't lean back! Confused

free skin care · Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:36 pm

I'm sorry if I steered you wrong. Sad

When you wrote that the mole was removed last week and the surrounding area was itchy, it sounded like the wound was closed. Vonstella is correct that it shouldn't be used on an open wound, but I've found that once an incision starts to itch, it is well on it's way to healing.

If you're more comfortable going back to vaseline or neosporin, you should do that, but you could probably still use the emu oil around the outside of the wound to control the itch.

free skin care · Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:56 pm

No worries, tam, I appreciate your responses. The wound is pretty much sealed up, and I think you're right that it's healing and that's why it itches.

free skin care · Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:00 pm

I know exactly how you feel Persephone. I've had a surgery on my forhead before. My doctor warned me not to scratch the stitches at all as it may lead to scarring or infection. And it was sooo itchy too! Sad

I wasn't allowed to put any ointment on it at all until the wound closes.

free skin care · Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:04 pm

Make sure you are not allergic to neosporin or the band-aid adhesive. I was told to use polysporin after my mole removal. About 10% of population is allergic to the neo in neosprin. I also got an allergic reaction to the adhesive on band-aid from another wound.

Good luck!

Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:07 pm

Itching does mean healing is happening, hope you feel better soon! Smile

free skin care · Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:24 am

[quote="mtview"]Make sure you are not allergic to neosporin or the band-aid adhesive. I was told to use polysporin after my mole removal. About 10% of population is allergic to the neo in neosprin. I also got an allergic reaction to the adhesive on band-aid from another wound.

Hmmm...I'd never thought of an allergic reaction! Although I have used both products before with no issues. I think part of it is irritation from ripping the bandage off every day (I'm trying to find different places to stick it on that still cover the stitches) and part of it is that I keep scratching above and below the bandage because somehow, in a psychological trick, that makes me feel better...

free skin care · Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:03 pm

artichoketrish wrote:

Itching does mean healing is happening, hope you feel better soon! Smile

It's a good sign! Hope you heal fast!

free skin care · Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:15 pm

Thanks to everyone for your good wishes!

I've actually had about 6 skin cancers removed. They've all been basal cell carcinomas, which is the least-dangerous form of skin cancer. But having to have this one cut out was a new and sobering experience for me...I'm now going to have to go back to the derm every six months rather than annually.

I'm fair and freckly and I grew up in So Cal in the 70's with a pool in my backyard, so let's just say I'm no stranger to the blistering sunburn. And then of course I did the requisite sessions in the tanning bed in high school and college.

I'll be very lucky if all I end up with is a swiss-cheese effect from having a zillion basal cell carcinomas removed and nothing scarier than that.

Sunscreen, people, please!!

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