Although circumcision is a very common procedure experienced by most men, many people still do not understand the proper way to clean and treat circumcision scars. If your child was circumcised as a baby, make sure you always clean the area around the circumcision after changing the diaper, dry it naturally, apply Vaseline to speed up the recovery of skin cells, bandage it with gauze (a type of gauze) and/or bandage, and change the diaper regularly. If your child or closest relative was circumcised as an adult (or if you were recently circumcised), the treatment method is slightly different. To facilitate the process of removing the first bandage that binds the wound, generally the penis needs to be soaked first, approximately 48 hours after the circumcision. After that, the bandage needs to be changed every day or every other day. If you can't avoid bathing, at least bathe carefully and keep the area around the circumcision area dry. Also be aware of some symptoms of infection such as redness, swelling, bleeding, yellowish discharge, feeling very painful, or making it difficult for you to urinate.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Caring for Circumcision Wounds in Babies
Step 1. Always clean the area after you change the diaper
After changing the diaper, take some time to make sure that no dirt or urine remains in the area around the circumcision. To clean it, use a soft cloth soaked in a mixture of water and baby soap. To rinse, lightly pat the cleaned area with a clean, damp cloth. Avoid using baby wipes for at least 7-10 days post-circumcision to avoid unwanted skin irritation.
Step 2. Dry the area well
After cleaning, dry the area around the circumcision naturally. In other words, don't use towels that run the risk of irritating your skin as it heals. If the baby is bathing with the help of a sponge, you can dry any part of the body other than the area around the penis with a towel.
Step 3. Check the condition of the diaper and replace it regularly
To prevent infection or irritation of the baby's skin, make sure you check the condition of the diaper regularly. Generally, a newborn baby will urinate 20 times a day. Therefore, try to check the condition of the diaper every 2-3 hours, when the baby cries, or when your instincts tell you that the diaper needs to be changed. Change diapers regularly so that they are not too wet or dirty. Be careful, urine and feces can infect the circumcision wound if it is not cleaned for too long.
Step 4. Bathe the baby with the help of a sponge
For at least 7-10 days after the baby is circumcised, do not immerse the circumcised area in water. Instead, run a sponge that has been moistened with a mixture of water and soap on your baby's face, head, and body. While one part of the body (for example, the head) is being cleaned, make sure you cover the rest of the body with a towel so the baby doesn't get cold. In addition, first dry the body part that has just been cleaned before starting to clean other body parts.
Step 5. Bandage the baby's circumcision wound
While the healing process is taking place, make sure the circumcision wound is wrapped with a bandage so that it doesn't rub against the diaper. In general, you just need to follow the instructions given by the doctor; but usually, you will first need to clean and dry the wound naturally, then apply Vaseline to prevent the bandage from sticking to the wound. Chances are, the doctor will also ask you to bandage the wound with a small gauze cloth before putting the baby on diapers.
Part 2 of 3: Treating Adult Circumcision Wounds
Step 1. Do not bathe or bathe for at least 48 hours post-circumcision
For 48 hours after the circumcision is performed, avoid bathing or bathing to prevent the wound from getting wet. If you want to clean the surrounding area, simply wipe the towel or damp cloth without touching the bandaged area. Remember, the circumcision wound must be completely dry for 48 hours.
Step 2. Remove the first bandage
The bandage and gauze placed by the post-circumcision doctor should be removed 48 hours afterward, by immersing the penis in water. First, fill a bowl or bucket with a mixture of water and Epsom salt or regular table salt to speed up wound healing, then soak the penis until there are no more pieces of cloth sticking to the surface.
Soak the area only until all the blood is dry and the gauze fibers are gone. After that, lightly pat the penis with a clean gauze cloth to dry it
Step 3. Change the bandage regularly
It's best to change the bandage every 24-48 hours or when it's wet. The bandage doesn't need to be changed if it's only wet with a few drops of urine, but it should be changed if it's really wet. Before applying a new bandage, apply a small amount of Vaseline to the tip of the penis to prevent the bandage from sticking to the surface of the skin.
Step 4. Bathe at least 2 weeks after the circumcision
While it's safe to take a bath within 48 hours of the circumcision, the wound should not be soaked in the bath until it is completely healed and dry (except when removing the first bandage). Bathing can introduce bacteria into the wound and risk developing an infection afterwards. Generally, the post-circumcision healing process lasts for 2-3 weeks, although the specific time really depends on a person's age, lifestyle, and medical history.
Step 5. Be careful when showering
While the healing process is in progress, do not spray water from the shower directly onto the circumcised area. Instead, try to cover the scar with your hands to prevent irritation. By doing so, the thrust of the shower will be drastically reduced because it is blocked by your hands, but the skin around the penis will remain wet and clean.
Part 3 of 3: Monitoring Wound Condition
Step 1. Watch for skin swelling, redness, or the appearance of a fever
Check the condition of the wound to make sure the skin does not swell or redden after the circumcision despite the fact that both conditions are common within 7-10 days after the circumcision. However, you should be wary if the skin looks more red or swollen within 5-10 days after the circumcision! Also be aware if the skin feels sore or warm to the touch as these are both signs of infection. Also, call the doctor immediately if the baby has a fever above 37°C or higher after the circumcision.
Step 2. Observe the condition of the blood that comes out
A few days after circumcision, generally the wound will bleed a few drops of blood in small amounts. However, you should be careful if the drops of blood that come out are very large and do not stop. Whenever this situation occurs, contact a doctor immediately!
Step 3. Watch out for a persistent yellowish or greenish discharge from the scar
Usually, circumcision wounds will indeed secrete a little yellowish fluid and form a scab when it heals. However, be aware if the fluid continues to come out for more than a week! Also be aware if the discharge is greenish in color, has an unpleasant odor, or if the amount continues to increase which indicates the wound has become infected. Call your doctor immediately if the circumcision wound produces suspicious discharge 7 days after!
Step 4. Watch out for blisters on the circumcision site
Generally, a small scab will form on a circumcision wound that is healing. However, the skin around the circumcision should not blister. If you find blisters and fluid-filled areas of your skin, it's likely an infection that needs to be treated by a doctor.
Step 5. Monitor urination pattern
For both infants and adults, the appearance of urinary problems is one of the symptoms of infection or post-circumcision complications. If the baby doesn't pee within 6-8 hours after the circumcision, go to the doctor immediately! Also call your doctor if adults experience pain or difficulty urinating after the circumcision.
