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How can you care for yourself when you have an object in your skin?
- If your doctor told you how to care for your wound, follow your doctor's instructions. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:
- Wash the wound with a mild soap and water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
- You may cover the wound with a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and a nonstick bandage.
- Replace the bandage as needed.
- Your doctor may have used medicine to numb your skin. When it wears off, your pain may return. Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). Read and follow all instructions on the label.
- Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
- If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
- After 2 or 3 days, if your swelling is gone, apply a heating pad set on low or a warm cloth to your wound area. Some doctors suggest that you go back and forth between hot and cold. Put a thin cloth between the heating pad and your skin.
- It may help to prop up the affected part of your body on a pillow anytime you sit or lie down during the next 3 days. Try to keep it above the level of your heart. This will help reduce swelling.
- Your wound may itch or feel irritated. A little redness and swelling is normal. Do not scratch or rub the wound.
Object in a child's skin: When to call
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- The skin near the wound is cool or pale or changes color.
- Your child feels tingling, weakness, or numbness in the area near the wound.
- The wound starts to bleed, and blood soaks the bandage. Oozing small amounts of blood is normal.
- Your child has trouble moving a limb near the wound.
- Your child has signs of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from the wound.
- Pus draining from the wound.
- A fever.
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- Your child does not get better as expected.
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The content above contains general health information provided by Healthwise, Incorporated, and reviewed by its medical experts. This content should not replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Not all treatments or services described are offered as services by us. For recommended treatments, please consult your healthcare provider.