Post-Procedure Wound Care Instructions
Proper wound care is essential for healing and minimizing scarring. Please follow these instructions carefully based on the specific procedure you had today.
Important General Rule for All Wounds:
Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your wound or changing your dressing.
A shallow scraping of the skin. It will heal like a deep scrape or graze.
- Keep it dry: Leave the original bandage on and keep the area completely dry for the first 24 hours.
- Daily cleaning: After 24 hours, gently wash the area once or twice a day with mild, fragrance-free soap and lukewarm water. Do not scrub. Gently pat the area dry with a clean towel.
- Keep it moist: Apply a generous layer of plain petroleum jelly (like Vaseline or Aquaphor) to the wound. Can also use Polysporin if needed.
- Cover: Cover the ointment with a standard adhesive bandage (Band-Aid).
- Duration: Repeat this cleaning, moisturizing, and covering process daily until the wound is completely healed over with new skin (usually 1 to 2 weeks). Do not let a hard scab form, as this increases scarring.
A deeper, circular sample of skin that requires stitches to close.
- Keep it dry: Leave the original pressure bandage on and keep the area dry for the first 24 to 48 hours.
- Daily cleaning: After the initial period, gently wash the area daily with mild soap and water. You can let soapy water run over the stitches in the shower, but do not aggressively rub them. Pat dry gently.
- Keep it moist: Apply a layer of plain petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Aquaphor) over the stitches to prevent them from drying out and crusting, which makes removal uncomfortable.
- Cover: Apply a fresh adhesive bandage daily.
- Follow-up: Your sutures need to be removed in 7 to 10 days. Please ensure your follow-up appointment is booked. Do not attempt to pull or cut the sutures yourself.
Used to treat precancerous spots, warts, or benign skin growths.
- What to expect: The treated area will likely become red, swollen, and form a blister within 24 hours. This is the intended reaction. Blood-filled blisters are also completely normal.
- Leave the blister alone: Do not pop or drain the blister. The skin of the blister provides a natural, sterile biological dressing.
- Daily care: You may wash the area normally with gentle soap and water.
- Covering: You do not need to keep this covered unless the blister pops on its own, is weeping, or is located in an area where it rubs against clothing. If it pops or rubs, cover it with a plain Band-Aid.
- Healing: The blister will eventually dry up, turn into a scab, and fall off on its own in 1 to 2 weeks. Do not pick at the scab.
Infection is rare when proper wound care is followed. However, please contact the clinic immediately if you notice any of the following signs of infection:
- Increasing, severe pain that is not relieved by regular OTC medications such as Tylenol.
- Minor oozing is normal. If the wound actively bleeds, apply firm, continuous pressure with a clean piece of gauze or a clean towel for 20 straight minutes without peeking. If bleeding continues after 20 minutes of firm pressure, contact the clinic or visit an urgent care center.
- Expanding redness or warmth extending outward from the wound.
- Yellow or green, foul-smelling pus draining from the site (a small amount of clear or yellowish fluid on the bandage is normal).
- A fever over 38°C (100.4°F).
Your Guide to Clear Skin: What to Expect and How to Manage It
Isotretinoin is a powerful Vitamin A derivative that works deep within your cells to target all four root causes of acne simultaneously. It acts as a genetic switch, instructing your DNA to drastically shrink your oil glands and reduce sebum (oil) production. By cutting off this oil supply, it effectively starves the acne-causing bacteria living in your pores. Additionally, it normalizes how your skin cells shed to prevent future clogs, and directly calms the local immune response that causes deep, painful, inflammatory cysts.
While the results are often life-changing, it is a strong medication that requires a serious commitment to a daily skincare routine and strict adherence to safety guidelines.
You will also be required to complete labwork at baseline and six weeks after starting this medication. These results will determine whether more frequent monitoring is warranted. If your six-week lab results are within normal limits, labwork will only be repeated at the end of your treatment, or if your dosage is changed.
A Note on Brands: You may be prescribed Epuris or Absorica instead of traditional Accutane. These newer formulations are designed with built-in lipid (fat) technology, meaning they absorb consistently into your system even if you don't take them with a high-fat meal, making your treatment much more reliable.
What to Expect: The "Normal" Side Effects
Because this medication works by stopping oil production, dryness is completely expected. If you are dry, the medication is working.
- Severely Chapped Lips (Cheilitis): This is the most common side effect. Your lips will peel and crack if not heavily moisturized.
- Dry Skin & Eczema Flares: Your face and body will feel dry, tight, and you may develop dry, itchy patches on your arms and hands.
- Dry Eyes & Nose: You may experience a gritty feeling in your eyes or minor nosebleeds due to dried nasal passages.
- Increased Sun Sensitivity: You will burn much faster than normal.
- Mild Joint and Muscle Aches: Particularly common if you are an athlete or highly active.
- The "Purge": Your acne may temporarily get worse during the first 2 to 4 weeks before it starts getting better. Do not panic; push through.
Tips for Managing Side Effects
You must change your skincare routine while on this medication. Stop all other acne treatments (no salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or retinols) while taking isotretinoin.
For Chapped Lips:
Carry a thick ointment everywhere. Plain petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Aquaphor) is best. Apply a thick layer before bed. If your lips become painfully cracked, ask the clinic about a medicated lip balm containing hydrocortisone (like Dr. Dan's CortiBalm) to use for a few days.
For Dry Skin:
Take short, lukewarm showers. Ditch lightweight lotions and switch to thick, ceramide-rich creams (like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or Vanicream) in a tub. Apply generously to damp skin within 3 minutes of stepping out of the shower.
For Dry Eyes & Nose:
Use over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (preservative-free artificial tears) as needed. Avoid wearing contact lenses if your eyes are very dry. Coat the inside of your nostrils with a thin layer of Vaseline using a Q-tip at night, or use a simple saline nasal spray to prevent nosebleeds.
For Sun Sensitivity:
Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ every single morning and reapply every 2 hours if outdoors. Wear protective clothing and hats.
For Joint Aches:
Stay highly hydrated, gently stretch, and you may use over-the-counter ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) for temporary relief if needed.
Strict Rules During Treatment
Pregnancy Prevention:
Isotretinoin causes severe birth defects. If you can become pregnant, you must use birth control and complete mandatory pregnancy tests. You absolutely must not get pregnant during treatment and for one month after your final pill.
No Waxing or Laser Treatments:
Your skin is incredibly fragile. Avoid facial or body waxing, laser hair removal, and cosmetic lasers during treatment and for 6 months after finishing, as this can severely tear or scar the skin. Threading or plucking is safe.
No Blood Donation:
You cannot donate blood while on this medication and for one month after finishing.
Limit Alcohol:
Isotretinoin is processed by your liver. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption to prevent liver strain.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
While severe side effects are rare, you must stop taking the medication and contact the clinic or seek emergency care immediately if you experience:
- Severe headaches accompanied by blurred vision, double vision, or vomiting (signs of increased brain pressure).
- Severe abdominal pain, bloating, or bloody diarrhea (signs of pancreas or bowel inflammation).
- Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, or dark urine (signs of liver strain).
- Significant mood changes, including severe depression, aggression, or thoughts of self-harm.
Used to treat: Actinic Keratoses, Squamous Cell Carcinoma In-Situ (Bowen's Disease), and Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma.
What is 5-Fluorouracil (Efudex)?
How Do I Apply Efudex?
- Apply a thin layer of cream to the affected areas using a clean finger or a Q-tip.
- Avoid the eyelids and corners of the mouth.
- Wash your hands well with soap and water after each application.
- Repeat the application twice a day for 2–4 weeks or as long as directed by your doctor.
- Within 10–14 days, the treated area will become red and irritated.
- You may develop scaling, itching, mild pain, or tenderness to touch.
- You may also develop small breaks (erosions) in the skin.
- These changes are evidence that the (pre)cancerous cells are being treated.
- You can expect these symptoms to last for the entire time you are using the treatment.
- If the treated area becomes very painful, or if you develop deep sores that drain foul-smelling liquid, stop the medication and call your doctor.
- Redness typically resolves within 2–3 weeks after treatment is completed.
- Plain Vaseline may be applied at any time for dryness and discomfort. Tylenol or Ibuprofen may also be taken if needed for discomfort. Oral over-the-counter Benadryl can help with any itching.
- The skin left behind should be smooth and slightly pink.
- Your skin will be much more sensitive to the sun during and after treatment. Be sure to apply SPF 30+ before exposing the treated skin to the sun to prevent further sun damage.
- This medication is deadly to dogs and cats if ingested.
Efudex is a topical chemotherapy that directly eliminates pre-cancerous and cancerous cells from the skin.
