Your wound was repaired with an adhesive film called Dermabond.

The wound will need a little care at home.

The Dermabond film will fall off in 5 to 10 days.

Exposure to water may make the Dermabond fall off too soon.

Call your doctor if the edges of the wound open or pull apart.

Avoid tanning lamps and prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Bandages

No bandage is needed but if you use one, change it daily until the adhesive film falls off. Also, change the bandage if it gets wet or dirty.

Teach your child not to scratch or pick at the film. This may loosen the film before the wound is healed. If you keep the wound covered, your child will be less likely to pick or scratch the film.

Do not apply any ointments, lotions or creams over the Dermabond film. This may loosen the film before the wound had healed.

Do not put tape on top of the film. The film could come loose when you remove the tape.

Cleaning The Wound

You do not need to clean the wound with soap or water. If the wound gets wet, gently blot the wound dry with a soft towel.

Do not soak or scrub the wound.

Signs Of Infection

There is a chance the wound may get infected. If you think it is infected, call your child’s doctor or return to the Emergency Department or Urgent Care.

Watch for these signs of infection:

  --Increasing redness around the wound.

  --Increasing pain or tenderness.

  --Yellow or green discharge or drainage from the wound.

  --Increased swelling.

  --Foul odor from the wound.

  --Fever.

  --Red streaks that start at the wound and travel towards the body.

Avoid activities that produce heavy sweating until the Dermabond film has fallen off. Your child may go back to school or child care. Please tell the teacher of the limits on your child’s activities. Your child should avoid contact sports, bike riding, swimming, tree climbing, skating and skateboarding, physical education class, and other rough play. Swimming is not allowed for 7 days.

When To Call The Doctor

Call your child’s doctor or return to the Emergency Department or Urgent Care if you see any signs of infection.

Call your child’s doctor to arrange a follow-up appointment if needed.

Other Advice

Many things affect, how a wound heals. Proper cleansing, proper nutrition, direction of the wound, exposure to UV rays and susceptibility to thick scarring can affect the look of your child’s healed wound. The final scar may not settle for a few years after the injury.

After the Dermabond has fallen off, you may apply lotions to the healed skin. You may use lotions such as aloe vera, shea butter, cocoa butter, vitamin E oil or over-the-counter scar-reducing creams. Before going outdoors, use a sunblock lotion with an SPF of 15 or higher. It is important to apply sunscreen often to the healed wound for up to 2 years. For healed wounds on the head, a hat should be worn to protect the area from the sun and UV rays.

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