Is it safe to swim with stitches in your head?

Answer 1

For the first 24-36 hours, you should not get your wound wet and should, in fact, try to leave the initial dressing in place. My instructions to patients is this: leave the dressing on for 24 hours. After that 24 hours, you may leave it open, get it wet, even wash it gently with soap and water.

Now about swimming, that is usually fine after 36 hours or so. If the wound was complicated to close, you may want to contact your physician first. Regardless of if you swim or not, you should remain watchful for signs of infection: redness, swelling, pain, drainage, or red streaks extending toward the heart from the wound. If you notice any of these, you should contact your physician as soon as possible for a recheck.

Answer 2

Bad idea. When you have a sutured wound, realize that the wound is open. Once the wound closes, they remove the sutures. Dampening an open wound can make an excellent medium for the growth of bacteria. Wait until your caregiver removes the sutures.

Answer 3

No ... since the scalp is healing, there could be open parts that could absorb any bacteria that happens to be in the water when you are.

Answer 4

Do not swim with stitches. The wound could become infected.