Taking care of stitches in your foot is almost the same as taking care of stitches anywhere else on your body. It’s not as complicated as it may seem, but stitches on the foot do come with some recommendations for quicker healing.
The most important aspect of healing around stitches is to ensure that the area does not get infected. On feet, this can seem particularly difficult. In our socks and shoes walking around all day, it might seem hard to avoid irritation and infection. With a few tips, you’ll be able to ensure your stitches are clean, safe, and out in no time!
Keep them Dry
For the first 24 hours after getting stitches, you need to keep the area dry. Even more ideal is to keep the area dry for 48 hours. Avoid showering and any other activity that could get your feet wet. After this initial period, make sure the stitches are covered with waterproof dressing and if they aren’t, cover your foot with a plastic bag or cling wrap when you’re showering.
Avoid all water activities for the entire time you have stitches. Swimming in a pool or body of water can easily lead to infection!
If you need to clean the area, wipe it gently with a damp cloth and pat it dry with a soft towel. Do not rub it as this could pull the stitches.
Keep them Clean
The area around stitches should be kept clean at all times. Wash it using the above instructions with clean hands to avoid passing any germs into the wound.
Avoid touching the area or worse, picking at it. No matter how itchy the stitches may get, don’t scratch at it. Your hands have germs on them that can cause infection, and picking may accidentally open the wound or pull the stitches.
Ensure you replace the bandage regularly as recommended by your doctor or chiropodist.
Stay Off Your Foot
The difficult part with stitches on the foot is that you need to keep weight off your foot as much as possible. When you have stitches on other parts of your body from a small procedure, often it can be easy to avoid over-using the area. On your feet, not so much!
If the stitches are on the bottom of the foot or toes, you’ll likely need to avoid walking on it at all to prevent the wound from opening. Depending on the severity, you may need to use crutches to get around. However, make sure to ask your doctor or chiropodist – in some cases, you may be able to walk normally as long as you keep your foot clean and dry.
Talk to a Chiropodist
If you have concerns about stitches in your foot or are preparing for having them in the future, make sure you discuss them with your doctor and a chiropodist. A chiropodist can help you find the right management plan while you need to stay off your foot.
The better you take care of stitches in your foot, the faster your recovery will be. If you keep the area clean, dry, and rested, you’ll recover a lot more quickly than if you pull the stitches or get an infection!
If you have questions about an upcoming procedure or want more information, contact Collective Foot and Wellness Clinic.