How Long Should You Use Vaseline After Mohs Surgery - 2023 Guide

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Vaseline is regarded as one of the best wound-care products. Vaseline speeds up the rate of re-epithelization, or the skin’s capacity to produce new cells, making this possible.

After Mohs surgery, it is strongly advised that you apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the wound site three to four times per day for up to three weeks.

Table of Contents

How Long Should You Use Vaseline After Mohs Surgery?

Applying a thin layer of Vaseline to the wound site 3–4 times per day for up to three weeks following Mohs surgery is highly advised.

In addition to lessening pain, this also lowers the risk of infection and dehydration and speeds up the process by which your skin produces new cells.

Vaseline helps keep open wounds from developing when the scab is scraped off and reduces the amount of scab that forms on the wound.

In order to ensure successful healing following a Mohs procedure, it’s essential that you adhere to a certain routine:

A dry initial dressing should be used, and it shouldn’t be taken off for 24 hours.
Apply ice in intervals of 20 minutes every two hours throughout the day after surgery,
Elevate the area where the surgery was conducted with an extra pillow when lying down or sleeping
48 hours after surgery, be cautious not to drink alcohol as this can also hinder proper wound healing.
Apply Aquaphor until your follow-up appointment with your dermatologist or the doctor who performed the Mohs procedure, after which time you should stop using hydrogen peroxide.

How Long Should You Wear a Bandage After Mohs Surgery?

In order to reduce swelling, it is advised to wear a bandage for at least 24 hours after the procedure and apply an ice pack every 2 hours for 20 minutes at a time.

Applying constant, firm pressure over the bandage for 20 to 30 minutes without removing it is crucial if there is any bleeding.

For two weeks following the procedure, you should refrain from strenuous activity that could put pressure on the wound.

If not prescribed for five days by another healthcare professional, taking aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen is not advised.

The best treatment options are petroleum jelly-based ointments like Vaseline. Depending on the type of surgery performed, recovery times can be shortened to as little as 1-3 weeks with regular Vaseline application.

How Often Should I Change My Dressing After Mohs Surgery?

Every day, switch out your clothes. Beginning with a gentle removal of the old bandage, wash the affected area with a solution of 12 water and 12 peroxide using a cotton ball, gauze, or Q-tip.

Apply Aquaphor ointment (or plain vaseline) to keep the wound moist for better healing until your follow-up appointment. This mixture might be required to remove any crusting along the suture line or wound. Pat the area dry afterward.

After that, wrap the area in dry, sterile gauze or a Band-Aid; however, if you plan to stay indoors, you can skip this step after applying an ointment.

Hydrogen peroxide should be stopped after 10 days if you had dissolving stitches, but Aquaphor should be applied every day until your post-op appointment.

For two weeks following surgery, it’s crucial to refrain from exerting yourself in any strenuous activities that could put pressure on the surgical site. This will promote faster wound healing.

When Can You Take a Shower After Mohs Surgery?

You might be wondering if you can immediately take a shower after Mohs surgery if you recently had it.

Yes, it is generally safe to shower after a Mohs procedure as long as you keep the surgical area dry and adhere to your doctor’s post-operative instructions.

Since the face is the location of Mohs surgery the majority of the time, showering should generally be avoided when the treated area is present.

Keeping the incision site dry for 24 to 72 hours may have been your doctor’s instruction; in this case, make sure to wrap the treated area in a waterproof material before getting in the shower or tub.

If your doctor has advised against taking a shower for a certain amount of time, you can still give yourself a quick sponge bath. Simply dunk a cloth in some water with some mild soap and gently scrub yourself from top to bottom.

After you’re done, use a clean towel to dry off and gently pat your delicate skin down.

Are There Any Precautions to Take Before Showering After Mohs Surgery?

The wound needs to be kept dry for at least 24 hours following surgery. You can shower while the dressing is on after 48 hours has passed before removing it.

Remove the bandage with care before getting in the shower and throw it in the trash.

Apply Vaseline or Aquaphor to the area before the shower, then cover it with a non-stick dressing like Telfa before entering the water to help protect your sutured wound.

While taking a shower, stay away from immersing or soaking your injured area. Usually, 24 hours after having Mohs surgery, you can begin taking showers without risk.

How to Minimize Scarring After Mohs Surgery?

Although scarring is a common side effect of Mohs surgery recovery, there are some ways to lessen it.

The key to healing the wound is to apply a pressure dressing to keep the area moist until full recovery has been achieved.

Applying silicone or silicone strips can lessen the visibility of surgical scars and help prevent scarring.

In addition, massages help to break up scar tissue and encourage collagen remodeling.

It’s also crucial to be careful not to overexpose the wound to sunlight because doing so will make it more obvious over time.

Similar to that, any recommendations for skin care given by a medical professional should be strictly followed, and various products should be used as required during the recovery period.

It is crucial to postpone considering scar revision treatments until after the healing process is finished in order to minimize the risk of further injury.

After Mohs surgery, scarring can be minimized by being patient during the healing process, giving wounds enough time to heal properly, and taking the advised precautions.

Conclusion

Vaseline must be included in the post-operative care regimen. Vaseline offers a protective layer to the wound, keeps it clean, and promotes healing by minimizing the effects of infection.

The best treatment option for many patients following facial reconstruction surgery in Los Angeles is ointments made of petroleum jelly, like Vaseline. Depending on the type of surgery, a good Vaseline application keeps the area around the wound at a favorable level of moisture, allowing for a recovery that can take just 1 to 3 weeks. Vaseline continues to be the least expensive ointment option on the market.

FAQs

When Should You Stop Putting Vaseline on a Wound?

Until the wound has completely healed, keep using petroleum jelly on it. Open wounds recover more gradually. The recovery time for a large wound can be up to 4 weeks. The wound can be covered and kept clean by using a dressing (such as plaster or gauze and tape).

How Long Should I Use Vaseline After Mohs?

1-2 weeks until the sutures are removed, then for 1 week after just apply If you don’t like the bandage, you can dispense with it, but you must apply Vaseline 5–10 times daily to prevent the wound from drying out.

Does Vaseline Speed Up Healing?

Use petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist so that the damaged skin can heal. Petroleum jelly keeps the wound moist and prevents it from drying out and developing a scab. Scabs delay healing.

How Long You Should Cover the Wound After Mohs Surgery?

Plan to cover the area for 1-2 weeks following surgery, or until your stitches are removed. Depending on the size, location, and capacity of your body to heal, a wound left to heal naturally may need to be bandaged for 4–12 weeks.