How do you fix skin after cast removal?

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  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3052193/
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3052193/

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Injury

How to Care for Skin After a Cast is Removed

Written by Julie Hampton

11 December, 2018

Fact Checked

Skin requires special treatment after a cast is removed. The skin will be sensitive to touch and muscles are weak due to the immobilization of the cast 1. Give your skin some special care to help it regain its original condition. Children Specialists of San Diego recommends avoiding rigorous activity for the same amount of time the cast was in place.

Wash the skin gently with mild soap and water. Do not scrub, rub or scratch skin, as it will be sensitive. Soak the area in warm water for 20 minutes twice a day if the skin was enclosed in a cast for more than three weeks. Understand the skin may have an odor--this is normal. The odor will disappear within a few days. The warm soak removes dead skin buildup--don't try to remove the dead skin all at once. It will slowly fall off over the next few days.

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Dry the area by patting or gently rubbing with a clean towel. Apply a fragrance-free lotion to the skin to add moisture and increase skin healing.

Avoid shaving the skin area for three days, suggests The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

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Limit activity and elevate the extremity if swelling occurs. Muscles may have become weakened and stiff with no use. Apply ice as needed to decrease swelling.

Contact a medical professional if there are open sores where the cast was placed. Look for signs of infection including redness, abnormal swelling and a fever which is not relieved by acetaminophen.

Tips

  • It is normal for function of the joints to be stiff and skin to be slightly discolored. Know that full range of motion and appearance will return slowly over time.

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References

  • Textbook of Basic Nursing; Caroline Bunker Rosdahl and Mary T. Kowalski (eds.)
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3052193/
  • http://www.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/orthopedics/4422.html
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=hIq32ObcDZIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=orthopedic+nursing&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1fbCVNaBBYeyoQT-iIGQCg&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAQ#v=snippet&q=cast%20after%20care&f=false
  • Cleveland Clinic. Casts & splints. Updated April 16, 2017.

Writer Bio

Julie Hampton has worked as a professional freelance writer since 1999 for various newspapers and websites including "The Florida Sun" and "Pensacola News Journal." She served in the U.S. Army as a combat medic and nurse for over six years and recently worked as the Community Relations Director for a health center. Hampton studied journalism and communications at the University of West Florida.

How do I get my skin back to normal after a cast?

To help things go back to normal:.
Wash the skin with soap and water when you get home from getting the cast off. ... .
If there are any scabs from the injury, do not pick at them. ... .
Put a fragrance-free moisturizer on the skin after bathing to help with dry skin..

How long is skin sensitive after cast removal?

After having a cast removed, it is normal to experience pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion in the area(s) that were immobilized. Symptoms can last up to twice the amount of immobilization time. For Example, if the patient was in a cast for 3-4 weeks, symptoms may last up to 6-8 weeks.

How long does it take for your arm to look normal after a cast?

Even after a cast is removed, it can take some time for a bone to be considered “fully healed.” In most cases, it takes around 6 to 8 weeks for a minor fracture to heal. More severe fractures can take between 3 and 6 months to fully heal even after the cast is removed.

Why is my skin sensitive after cast removal?

It is normal for the injured area to feel stiff and look weaker or smaller than before the injury, this is due to inactivity. The newly exposed skin may be dry, itchy and tender at first, this can sometimes last for up to a week.