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Can Wound Be Washed With Salt/water Bath Or Just Tap Water?
Good evening and greetings from Portugal. I am 26 yrs old and had a circumcision yesterday. The urologist said not to bath/get wound wet for at least 5 days. And that I should remove dressing straightaway (i.e. when I got home yesterday) and apply antiseptic cream to stitches, and then replace the dressing. My concern is that I ve looked up many reputable medical websites and all say that the wound should be gently washed/bathed daily, either with salt/water bath or just tap water. So, to wash or not to wash, that is my question. Many thanks in advance for your advice. Yours respectfully, Joe O.
posted on
Sun, 23 Feb 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 20 May 2014
Answered on
Wed, 21 May 2014
Last reviewed on
Hello,
Thank you for writing to HCM
First 5 days you need not bath. 6th day onwards Wash with plain water (tap water) gently. Do not use salt.
If you don't wash the wound after 5th day you will end up with infection.
You can Continue using antibiotic or antiseptic cream that your surgeon has prescribed till your wound heals completely.
Do not put powder. Do not wear tight clothing.
Regards
Thank you for writing to HCM
First 5 days you need not bath. 6th day onwards Wash with plain water (tap water) gently. Do not use salt.
If you don't wash the wound after 5th day you will end up with infection.
You can Continue using antibiotic or antiseptic cream that your surgeon has prescribed till your wound heals completely.
Do not put powder. Do not wear tight clothing.
Regards
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