Skin glue or adhesive-strip wound care instructions

Care of glue or strips

• Keep the wound clean and dry according to your clinician's advice.
• Do not pick, peel, rub or pull at skin glue or adhesive strips.
• If skin glue was used, do not apply creams, ointments or adhesive dressings over the glue unless advised.
• If adhesive strips were used, avoid pulling them off early or covering them with adhesive dressings unless advised.
• Allow skin glue or adhesive strips to loosen and separate naturally.

Activity and bathing

• Avoid stretching, heavy lifting or strenuous activity that pulls on the wound.
• Do not swim, use a spa or soak the wound until the wound is closed and the glue or strips have separated as advised.
• Follow any procedure-site-specific restrictions provided by the clinician.

When to call

• Contact the practice if the wound opens or bleeding persists.
• Call the practice if redness, swelling, pain or discharge increases.
• Call if you are unsure whether the glue or strips are separating as expected.

Bleeding

A small amount of spotting may occur. If bleeding occurs, apply continuous firm pressure with clean gauze or a clean folded cloth. Avoid repeatedly lifting it to check because this may restart bleeding.

Contact the practice if bleeding does not settle or repeatedly soaks through the dressing. Seek urgent care for heavy or uncontrolled bleeding.

When to contact the practice

• Increasing or spreading redness around the wound.
• Increasing swelling, warmth or pain.
• Yellow, green or unpleasant-smelling discharge.
• Fever or feeling significantly unwell.
• The wound opening.
• Persistent bleeding.
• Concerns about healing.
• Uncertainty about dressings, stitches, adhesive strips, skin glue or pathology results.

Pathology and follow-up

• Follow the practice's instructions for receiving the pathology result.
• Attend any advised wound review or stitch-removal appointment.
• The procedure is not complete from a care perspective until the pathology result has been reviewed and communicated.