The healthcare provider removed your child's stitches from a wound or an incision (cut). The wound is healing well. As it continues to heal, help prevent infection by taking good care of the wound.

Follow your healthcare provider's recommendations for:

• Giving your child any medicines for pain. These may include acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand), or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often.
• Any activities your child should avoid.
• When your child should follow up.

To help your child's wound heal and to prevent infection:

• Wash the wound every day. Use a mild soap and warm water, rinse, and gently pat dry with clean gauze or a towel.
• Change the dressing (bandage covering) as recommended and use any prescribed ointments as directed.
• As the wound heals, it may be itchy. Help your child not scratch the area. Try to help them focus on something else that they enjoy, such as reading or coloring. For babies, have them wear mittens or make sure the wound is covered. If needed, you can ask your healthcare provider about giving medicine to soothe itching.
• Make sure your child doesn't pick at the wound.
• When your child goes outside, cover the wound to protect it from the sun.
• Check the wound every day. Some redness around the wound is normal. Check to make sure the red area isn't getting any bigger.

• The wound looks like it is opening up.
• Your child:
  • Has signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, or swelling around the wound
  • Has pain on or around the wound that is getting worse
  • Gets a fever

Why do wounds leave scars? A scar is a mark left on your skin after a wound has healed. A scar forms when the body repairs a wound using a protein called collagen. The new skin may not have the same color as the other skin. Because of this, the scar can look lighter, darker, or pink compared to the skin around it. Scars are a natural part of healing. A scar can form even if a wound is fixed with stitches. Over time, many scars fade or get smaller.

Can a scar be prevented? A scar can't be prevented, but there are ways to make it less noticeable. To help with scar healing, you can:

• Use any ointments or lotions as recommended by your healthcare provider.
• Protect the area where the scar is from the sun. Stay in the shade or cover the wound area with clothes if possible. If the wound will be out in the sun, use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and UVA and UVB protection.