Steri-strips off...now what?

[MerelyMe]

It's been 10 days since my TT and as my Dr. advised I took my strips off.  I'm wondering now...what to do.  Can I somehow clean the area?  There's dried blood and skin w/in the incision.  Around the incision it's just really puffy and red, swollen like a hump.  How do I clean that...or can I even?  Also, what about Vit. E and other creams?  Did you all use those?  I asked my Dr. about them and he said there was no clinical evidence that they lessen the scar.  What's your experience?  Thanks!

[crocsrock]

My surgeon told me to wash my incision, gently, once daily.  He also suggested Mederma to help reduce scarring.  The Mederma made my skin itch so I stopped using it.  I now alternate between pure Aloe gel and Vitamin E oil.  So far, so good.  I am 2 months post-op.  I hope you find something that works well for you.  Good luck, and happy healing.  :o)

[Justicemom]

I gently let the shower water hit the area...I used Vitamin E oil for a short time until I broke out like a teenager all around the scar!  I stopped that, got the acne cleared up and am still using Mederma.  I use Neutrogena spf 70 everyday on it too...you must have sunscreen on it for the first several months...

[jeileen]

I used tea tree oil.  It's an antibiotic and it takes care of the inflammation and any potential infection.  After two months, my scar is well healed.  The oil can be used full strength (only one of two essential oils you can do that with) or mixed with an oil base, like almond oil.  You can find it at a health food store.  It does have a strong odor, but for what it does with all skin issues, it's used often in our house.  Good luck!

[MJ13]

I was able to use Mederma from the start and four month later you can barely see my scar.