07-05-2011, 05:01 PM
Holding wounds closer means less scarring. The purpose of steristrips is to avoid skin maceration....and they are cosmetically better.
Otherwise, I've also told patients to leave them on until they fall off by themselves.
Partially agree. You want to leave them on and let them fall off by themself.
Holding skin edges together does not necessarily make for a better scar though-- the main purpose is to protect the wound from contamination until there's a solid wound bed.
Otherwise, I've also told patients to leave them on until they fall off by themselves.
Black wrote:
[quote=dad@home]
As long as possible..... until they fall off on their own.
They are used to hold the skin edges together until the repair/hole can make a strong bond. If you take them off early the wound edges could pull apart and increase the size of scar. It's mostly a cosmetic thing.
dad
Partially agree. You want to leave them on and let them fall off by themself.
Holding skin edges together does not necessarily make for a better scar though-- the main purpose is to protect the wound from contamination until there's a solid wound bed.