We work hard to provide outstanding medical care through comprehensive diagnostic workup, timely appointments, and diligent follow-up.
Please follow these steps to care for the site after a skin procedure (biopsy, mole removal) : - Remove the dressing applied after procedure after 24 hours. - It is ok to shower and wash with a mild soap once the dressing is off. Dove®, Cetaphil® or Purpose® do not have perfumes or dyes. Wash the area gently, do not rub or scrape the site. Use your fingertips to clean the area, a washcloth will irritate it. Pat the site dry. - Keep the site dry, avoid contamination with dirt, soil, food, etc. - Apply Polysporin® or bacitracin antibiotic ointment on the area 2-3 times a day (after shower and/or morning/evening). Neosporin® (triple-antibiotic ointment is less desirable as some people are or may become allergic to it. - You want to make sure the site is always moist. If you see that the area is dry, apply the ointment. You should keep the area covered with a thin layer of ointment at all times until the site is completely healed. - You may want to keep the area covered with a gauze pad, however it is not absolutely necessary as long as the site is covered with ointment at all times. - If a shave biopsy was done, the wound will take as long as a scraped knee to heal. You should apply ointment until the scab peels off. Do not pick the scab! Can I resume my usual activities? Avoid exercise, bending, straining, or lifting any heavy objects the day of the biopsy and the day after. We do not recommend keeping the area submerged in water (hot tub, swimming pools, lakes) for a prolonged period of time until healing is complete. Do I need to come back for another office visit? If a suture was placed, you will be told if it will dry up and fall out or if you have to come back to have it removed. If you need to have sutures removed, typical time will be 5-7 days for face or neck, 7-10 days for upper extremity, 10-14 days for trunk and lower extremity. What are the signs that the wound has become infected? Small area of redness surrounding the site as well as mild itching are signs of healing and they are normal. The effect of local anesthetic used for the procedure will usually wear off after 2-4 hours. Mild pain thereafter is normal and may persist for a day or two. Signs of infection include: worsening pain, redness spreading out around the wound, swelling, pus (milky white-yellow-green) discharge from the wound, fever or chills, worsening malaise or fatigue. Please notify our office immediately if you observe any of these signs.
5950 S WILLOW DR STE 212 GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO 80111-5144 Phone: (303) 799-1443 Fax: (303) 706-1900
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