Can the appendicitis incision itch and be a little red a year after it is taken out?

Answer 1

Yes, it can. Believe it or not, the absorbably suture material they use to close the muscles back can take 6 months or more to completely be absorbed by the body. If your body decides not to absorb it, it will try to kick it out, sort of the way it does a splinter. You could be itchy in a spot where the body is trying to do just that. Or you could be just irritating skin that is a little more sensitive at the scar. If your undies elastic rubs it, or the waistband of the trousers or jeans does, it can irritate the scar tissue and make it red or itchy. If that's the case, simply moving the waistbands will correct it. You can use a cocoa butter cream or any body lotion to soothe the skin. If you can't change the waistband, then you would need to bandage the scar so it doesn't get rubbed. Scars are sometimes more sensitive than the other skin around it, and will need protecting until they get a bit older and settled. If you think it's from the sutures, you can have the doctor give it a poke to see what he thinks. The body will eventually absorb most and kick the rest out, but it can take a bit. If it gets kicked out, you will feel a tiny stiff pokey bit come out of the skin- sometimes it makes a sore spot where it's going to come out. If you do feel that, you can trim it back with a clipper carefully. Sometimes you can give it a tug, and it will come out. It's not a problem as you are completely healed- more scarey than anything. I had this same trouble with my appendix scar, had a bit poke out nearly a year later and gave me quite a start. And I'm a nurse, so you'd think I'd be real calm about it, but it was still an odd sensation. It took me a moment to realize what was going on. Anyway, if it really is bother you or it starts to get infected looking, go back to the doctor for his opinion. Otherwise, it should be just fine.

Answer 2

I suppose it could....but it probably shouldn't. It would probably indicate an infection, I would contact your physician.