Exact Answer: Up to 2 weeks
The Steri Strips are sticky or adhesive bandages that are used after the dissolvable stitches are removed. People can also use the Steri Strips by purchasing them from medicine stores or pharmacies. People can use the Steri Strips for protecting wounds or minor cuts.
Those who have severe injuries with big wounds must not trust the Steri Strips, as they won’t work for them. Many people recognize the Steri Strips as butterfly bandages due to their structure. The ends of the Steri Strips contain sticky substances, and the middle of the Steri Strips container has no sticky substance.
The wounds which require thin bandages can be suitable for Steri Strips. The Steri Strips can stay for around 2 weeks. Some people may see the Steri Strips getting removed on their own after a few days. The person needs to take some precautions to not let the Steri Strips go away very quickly.
How Long Do Steri Strips Stay On?
| Steri Strips | Time |
| In weeks | 2 weeks |
| In days | 14 days |
There are many types of Steri Strips that people can find in the market. Not all the Steri Strips would look exactly similar, but they would be thin. The lasting time of Steri Strips depends on how they are put and maintained. The person needs to stay away from water if they want to keep the Steri Strips for a long time.
The main mechanism behind the healing of wounds by Steri Strips is to heal the wound without touching it. The Steri Strips would close the ends of the wounds and this would help in faster healing of the wounds. The Steri Strips would help in preventing the wounds from the bacteria and viruses present in the environment.
The best part about the Steri Strips is that they can be removed anytime whenever the person wants. The person can take off the Steri Strips before one week if the wounds are completely healed. Unlike the stitches, the Steri Strips won’t require any special method. Not all wounds are suitable for using the Steri Strips.
The wounds which are small in size and have straight ends are a better fit for the Steri Strips. If the wounds are bleeding continuously, then the person should avoid putting the Steri Strips on them. Any type of liquid near the wounds can remove the Steri Strips as the sticky substance would get weak after moisture contact.
Why Do Steri Strips Stay On For This Long?
The length of the wound is a big concern for knowing their suitability for Steri Strips. The wounds which are longer than half-inch would not be suitable for the application of Steri Strips. If someone tries to apply the Steri Strips on the bigger wounds, then it may cause the wound to go worse by pressurizing the wounds.
The person should avoid putting Steri Strips on the wounds which would not get in touch with the middle part of the Steri Strips. If the person wants to maintain proper hygiene, then they can change the Steri Strips every 2 to 4 days.
If the Steri Strips are applied on the part of the body which doesn’t move a lot, then it would not get removed before 2 weeks. Everyone should apply the Steri Strips with proper hygiene to not get them removed quickly. Sometimes, people apply the Steri Strips with dirty hands and this would cause problems such as bacterial infection.
To make the Steri Strips last more than one week, everyone should try to apply them to the dry area. The edges of the Steri Strips should be tightly stuck. The strips would get separated or fall off the wound when they are no more effective. The person may not have to remove the Steri Strips all the time.
Everyone needs to avoid removing and sticking the Steri Strips many times, as it may affect the condition of the wound.
Conclusion
The lasting time of the Steri Strips would be around 2 weeks. The Steri Strips would come out on their own when the wounds are completely healed. The surgeons may apply the Steri Strips when the wounds are about to heal.
The people should avoid applying the Steri Strips on the wound from which the liquid is coming out continuously as they won’t allow the Steri Strips to stay for a long time. The quality of the Steri Strips would affect how long the Steri Strips would last. People should try to apply the high-quality Steri Strips to allow it to stay for more than 2 weeks.
References
- https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/fulltext/2004/03000/THE_APPLICATION_OF_STERI_STRIPS.88.aspx
- https://emj.bmj.com/content/19/5/405.short
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
