Post-Procedure Care: Electrodesiccation and Curettage
Once the procedure is completed your doctor will apply a dressing to the area. Please keep the dressing in place and do not get wet for 24 hours.
It is normal to have some redness and/or swelling at the site.
Care Instructions:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before changing your dressing
- Remove the old dressing, and wash the site with warm water and soap
- Do not scrub the site
- Pat the area dry with gauze or a tissue (does not have to be sterile)
- Cover the area with a thick ointment such as Vaseline or Aquaphor
- Cover the site with an adhesive bandage (Band-Aid) or a non-stick type pad and tape
Please avoid submerging the area in baths, hot tubs, pools, ponds, or lakes until the site is completely healed.
Occasionally the site will bleed after your leave the clinic; this is more common in patients taking blood thinning medications. If this occurs apply direct pressure to the wound for 10-20 minutes.
Depending on the location on the body, as well as the size and depth of the treatment area, ED&C sites can take a long time to fully heal. As long as the site is progressively improving (getting smaller, less drainage) this is normal. The site is considered fully healed when there is closed, smooth pink skin, and no more scab, crusting, or drainage.
Please contact our office immediately if:
- Bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes of firm pressure
- Any signs or symptoms of infection (swelling, pain, thick yellow/ pussy drainage, redness of the skin or redness spreading away from the site.)