When can I get my stitches wet?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
A shower is usually fine after 24 hours; a soak is not. MedlinePlus guidance on closed surgical wounds says it is usually OK to shower after 24 hours, prefers showers over baths so the wound does not soak, and warns that soaking can make a wound reopen or become infected. Gentle running water and patting dry is the pattern; no scrubbing the wound and no picking at scabs. Some surgical teams are stricter, advising you to keep the wound dry for several days, particularly with certain dressings or tricky locations. Your own discharge instructions overrule any general rule. Pools, hot tubs, baths, and open water all wait until the wound is fully sealed.
What to do
- Follow your discharge instructions first; they are written for your exact wound.
- Shower, do not soak, in the early days; pat dry instead of rubbing.
- Keep dressings dry and change them if they get wet or blood-soaked.
- Hold off on baths, pools, and hot tubs until the wound is sealed and your team says go.
Related questions
- How to tell if a cut needs stitches?
- Why do I get itchy after a shower?
- Can an online doctor help after surgery?
- When to go to hospital for fever in adults?