Comparison of infection rate after facial melanocytic nevi excision with and without exposure to water within the first 48 hours

Background: Preexisting guidelines about clinical management of cutaneous wounds are based on wound dressing and avoiding water exposure for at least 48 hours. In this study, infection rate in the patients who underwent melanocytic nevus surgery with dressed dry wounds were compared with the patients who allowed their wounds to become wet. Method: In a controlled randomized clinical trial study, the incidence rate of infection in facial melanocytic nevi surgery in the wounds that became wet 24 hours after surgery (234 wounds) were compared with similar wounds that were kept dry for at least for 48 hours (234 wounds). Result: The infection rate was 3.4 % (8 wounds) for the dry wounds versus 2.6 % (6 wounds) for the wet wounds; comparison of these two rates showed no statistically significant difference (P=0.548, odds ratio= 1.345, CI 95%: 0.459-3.939). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that it was safe to remove the dressing of the wounds within 24 hours after minor surgery without concern about infections and allow wounds to become wet after 24 hours under normal circumstances.