Afterskin cancerremoval surgery, it’s normal for the incision site to feel sore.
If you think your incision is infected, don’t take a stab at treat it at home.
Instead, call your healthcare provider and ask for advice.
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Depending on the severity of the infection, you may need to take a round ofantibioticsto treat it.
Skin cancer excision involves removing the tumor along with a slightly wider margin of normal skin.
In most cases, this is done in a healthcare provider’s office using local anesthetic.
It will leave a scar.
If it is found, another layer is taken and examined.
This is repeated until the layer is cancer-free.
There is a small chance of bleeding after Mohs surgery.
Minimize this risk by getting plenty of rest during the first days of recovery.
Avoid heavy lifting and rigorous exercise until the wound has closed.
You may notice a little redness around the incision as it heals.
But if the redness increases or becomes swollen, contact a healthcare provider right away.
Research shows that males may be more likely to develop infection after skin surgery, too.
To care for your surgical wound at home, follow the surgeons instructions carefully.
Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your wound.
Depending on how severe your infection is, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics.
This process is known asdebridement.
The doctor will then rinse the wound with salt water and drain any pus.
The wound is generally wrapped with dressings soaked in salt water (saline) and covered with a bandage.
Summary
It is possible to develop an infection after skin cancer removal surgery.
Common signs include redness, swelling, pus, a foul smell, increased pain, and a fever.
Call your surgeon if you are concerned that you have developed a new infection.
Treatment options include antibiotics or cleaning out the wound.
To help prevent infection, follow your surgeons instructions for wound care carefully.
Many skin cancer removal incisions heal within two to four weeks.
If you have any underlying medical conditions or take certain medications, the healing time may take longer.
The incision site should get less red, swollen, and tender, and it should stop draining pus.
A little redness around the incision site is normal, but it should not be getting worse.
You should notice a healthy scab forming over the incision.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Surgical site infections.
American Cancer Society.Surgery for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
NYU Langone Health.Surgical procedures for basal & squamous cell skin cancers.
American Society for Mohs Surgery.Wound care a crucial aspect of Mohs recovery.
2021 Sep;6(3):181-197. doi:10.3138/jammi-2021-04-29
