How Long Should You Leave Steri-Strips On? A Complete Guide

Ever asked yourself how long you should leave Steri-Strips on a cut? Knowing when to remove them safely can seem tricky. These small adhesive strips keep the edges of skin together while a wound is healing. If you let the strips linger too long or remove them too soon, healing may slow down or scars may worsen. We will tell you everything about how long to keep on steri strips, how to apply them, how to remove them, and so on in the subsequent sections.

What Are Steri-Strips and Why Are They Used?

Steri strips are narrow, sticky strips that are effectively used to hold the edges of a small wound or incision closed. Hospitals regularly use them instead of or in addition to stitches.

They work by drawing the skin edges together to help the wound close neatly. You might also know them as butterfly stitches. They carry fewer infection risks than traditional stitches and don’t need needles or special tools.

How Long to Keep Steri-Strips On

Most NHS guidelines recommend keeping Steri Strips on for at least a week. A few tougher wounds, including those on the shin, may require up to 14 days. You’ll be told when, for your particular wound, it’s right to do so by your clinician. If they do not, a safe window is 7 to 10 days.

You should keep them in place until they naturally fall off, or you’re instructed to remove them. If they start peeling early and your wound appears healed, it’s safe to trim the loose edges. If strips come off too early, do not reapply: you can allow the wound to heal on its own.

How to Apply Steri-Strips

Though medical staff often apply these, you may need to use them at home for minor cuts. Here’s a simple routine to follow:

• Wash your hands well.
• Wash the wound gently with cool water and mild soap.
• Dry the area completely with a few pats.
• Use your clean fingers to press the wound edges together.
• Make a line with the first strip over the closed wound without stretching it.
• Place more strips alongside the first, separating the strips by about 1/8 inch.
• To add more security, snap a plaster over the end of the strips.

You want the result to be a nice, smooth closure—not overly stretched or puckered skin.

Caring for a Wound with Steri-Strips

Once the strips are in place, tend to the wound so healing remains on course:

• Let it stay clean and dry, particularly during the first 24 hours.
• Do not submerge in a bath or pool for the first seven days.
• After 5-7 days, you can wash gently, no scrubbing
• Don’t pick at the strips. Allow them to come off naturally after a week
• Cut any excess ends with clean scissors, if necessary

Check each day. If the wound becomes red, hot, painful, or starts oozing pus, see your GP or call NHS 111.

How to Remove Steri-Strips

If the strips don’t fall off after 10 to 14 days, it’s time to remove them. Follow these steps:

• Soak the area in warm water. This softens the adhesive
• Use clean fingers to roll a strip off from each end toward the centre
• Move slowly to avoid opening the wound.
• Once removed, gently pat the skin dry.
• If the strip resists, soak again. Never rip or force them off.

Signs to Get Medical Advice

Call your GP or NHS 111 if you notice:

• The wound splits open or starts to bleed.
• Redness, swelling, warmth, or a bad smell appear.
• You see thick discharge or your temperature rises.
• The steri-strips come off, and the edges of the wound separate.

These may be signs of infection or poor healing.

Aftercare for a Scar

Once the wound heals and the strips come away, you may see a scar. Here’s how to help it fade:

• Protect it from the sun with SPF for up to a year.
• Use a cream or oil such as E45 after a few weeks to smooth the area.
• Massage it gently twice a day to improve softness.
• A scar may fade over months. Full healing may take up to two years

What if a Strip Falls Off Early?

If a strip peels away before day five but the wound looks closed, simply trim it off. Avoid moist environments and keep a dry plaster on the site if needed. The rest can stay until they drop off or reach days 7–10.

If a strip comes off and the wound opens, treat it like a fresh cut. Contact your GP or go to A&E for advice.

Final Thoughts

Steri strips are a gentle, suture-free way to hold wounds together. Let them stay on for 7 to 14 days, depending on your wound. Initially just keep them dry and slowly and gently remove them when the time is right. Monitor any problems and take care of your scar.

By treating them gently, you promote faster healing and minimize scarring. And that is the difference between how your wound looks and feels later.