Open Question – Mole removal area keep covered?
Q: So today I went in and had a very small mole removed from my left outer ear. Right now I had a bandaid over it. Do I really need to keep that covered for like a week or two until it’s fully healed? Would I be okay just to leave it heal in the area like any other cut does. I mean I know when I scraped up a knee or what not, my mom always told me things heal faster out in the open without being covered with a bandaid. Is there much harm leaving it uncovered? I have to work tomorrow and work in a professional environment and I don’t think that this bandaid on my ear looks very professional at all… Thanks guys!
A: Just keep it covered for now. Your derm should have told you when it is okay to go into the sun, or to uncover it, and if they havent ask them. Don’t go in the sun for major periods of time, that isn’t good for the healing process. And keep it clean with soap and water. I also use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide and Neosporin keep it covered while working but leave it uncovered in the evening
This was an open question I ran into, today, while doing some research. It made me THINK – WTH is the person doing asking a question online??? A LICENSED Board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon removed the mole! Either they did NOT pay attention to their doctor; or their doctor DID give them instructions, and they didn’t want to listen. ‘Question Person’ – your doctor told you to leave it covered. Please listen to them – they spent over 10 years in school; they KNOW what they are doing.
Now, if it sounds like I’m ranting…I am…just a little bit : ). But, the point is simple. Why pay a specialist to do a procedure; then, not listen to them? Aftercare is VERY important. A perfect surgery can be botched by not following instructions. And, the main point is that if you have ANY questions – they should ONLY be directed toward your physician….PLEASE!
Now that we have that (and the words in caps…LOL) out of the way – I have to say that the person who answered, did so, responsibly. Their answer pretty much hit the target…except they may have taken it a bit too far toward the end with suggestions on OTC medicinal solutions and when to uncover it. I also question that they did not ask the person whether they could hide it under their hair – but, give them credit for chiding ‘Question Person’ that they should have received instructions from their ‘derm’ – too true. But, maybe if they had stopped there – it would have sent the patient back to the doctor, for advice…as it should be.
Final advice: When you are under a doctor’s care – follow THEIR instructions. The internet is not a doctor!
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