Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

Can he swim with stitches?

Resolved Question:

My 9 year old son got stitches in his face over 48 hours ago. I was told by urgent care to keep bacitracin ointment on the stitches and keep it covered. How long should I keep it covered? I have always been told to let wounds breathe in order to heal faster. Can he swim with stitches?

Category: Community

Ask Your Own Question

Category: Family Physician-GP
 32 Doctors Online

Hello,

The stitch is basically put where there was a cut. When they say stitch can be removed in 7 days, it means it takes 7 days for the cut to heal and connective tissue to grow and connect the two sides and oppose the cut surface together.

Therefore, it's important you keep the area clean. Bacitracin is antibiotic will prevent growth of bacteria. It's important you apply it twice daily on stitch area. Its better you keep away from swimming for 7 days. Water is chlorinated and there could be other microorganisms growing in water.

Try keeping it dry and not wet to prevent yeasts growing too.

Thank you.


Dr. John Monheit
Category: Family Physician-GP
Experience: 
Residecny: North Colorado Family Medicine
Medical School: The Chicago Medical Center
Dr. John Monheit and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news