How often to change dressing on stitches

Primarily, consider the following when choosing a wound dressing.

• The size of the wound area
• The depth of the wound
• How much exudate the wound is producing
• The location of the wound on the body

There are also some patient and lifestyle-related factors that rely on the characteristics of wound dressing.

Is the patient in a lot of pain or distressed? How often will the dressing need to be changed?

How often should you change a bandage on a deep cut?

Who will change the dressing, a nurse or an untrained person?

A simple wound dressing must usually be in direct contact with a wound, so it's also important to consider how well it will conform to the specific area of the body to which it's applied.

Will the dressing be in a joint crevice and so need to be flexible and malleable? Will it be on the heel of the foot, and so need to be minimally bulky?

It’s also important to be aware of the way a wound changes over time as it heals.

For example, a dressing must be selected based on the level of exudate a wound produces. Ideally, the dressing should absorb enough exudate to avoid skin maceration

how often should a bandage be changed on an open wound

how often should a bandage be changed after surgery