Having itchy stitches can mean many things. This article will talk about the causes of itchy stitches and when to worry about them. In some cases, there can be an infection around stitches that are itchy.
Why are stitches sometimes itchy?
It is normal for skin to itch slightly after surgery. Especially when the effects of the anesthesia wear off, a patient can expect to feel some itchiness, redness and even swelling on their skin. However, these sensations should go away naturally, especially when the stitches will be removed, or when they will dissolve into the person’s body.
If the itch remains for a prolonged period, it may be a sign of infection. The doctor will usually provide a patient the information on how to tell when an itch is signaling an infection or if it is just part of the natural healing process.
Itchy stitches in your stoma
There are several reasons why a patient experiences itchiness in their stoma. Since this surgery is quite different from others and it has more sensitive elements involved, such an artificial stoma, which refers to an opening that is created to lead to the gut or trachea, there is a bigger risk involved if an infection were to develop.
The stoma is more sensitive than other parts of the body because it is an opening that leads to the inner organs and parts of the body. Getting in contact with bodily waste or other material that can cause irritation and infection can lead to itchiness in the stoma.
Stool irritation
If the stool will come into contact with the stoma, it will cause i
rritation, redness, itchiness, and swelling in the area. This is why a patient has to maintain the utmost cleanliness when it comes to the care and cleaning of their stoma.
Product sensitivity
The itch in the stoma can also be caused by sensitivity to any products that are used to clean the stoma. If the patient is sensitive to one of the ingredients in the product, it can cause sensitivity in the stitches in the stoma that can result in itching and redness.
Yeast
Yeast infections in the skin can also be a cause of why the stitches in the area of the stoma become itchy. These infections grow in dark, moist places. These can be places of the body where the stomas are located. These infections can sometimes start when a person is taking antibiotic medication. After the ostomy surgery, these conditions are present, and a patient has to be careful of yeast infections.
When to worry
If the itch, redness or swelling is severe and does not go down or subside even with anti-inflammatory medicines or other home remedies, it is a sign of an infection. If this occurs, the patient should see their doctor right away. The doctor will be able to recommend the proper steps needed to be taken to control and get rid of the infection as well as how to prevent it in the future.
