Will drinking alcohol affect stitches?

Drinking alcohol after receiving stitches usually has negative effects, as it is not conducive to wound healing and may also cause other discomfort symptoms.

Stitches primarily serve to stop bleeding. For wounds on exposed areas, stitching helps achieve better cosmetic results after healing. Most patients use antibiotics or other medications after getting stitches to prevent infection. If alcohol is consumed at this time, a disulfiram-like reaction may occur due to the interaction between the medication and alcohol, leading to discomfort such as redness and itching at the wound site. Additionally, alcohol can irritate the wound and impair its recovery. Moreover, patients may need tetanus antitoxin injections after stitching; drinking alcohol could trigger allergic reactions such as nausea and vomiting, and in severe cases, may even endanger the patient's life.

After receiving stitches, comprehensive wound care is essential. The wound must not come into contact with water, and patients should avoid spicy or irritating foods. It is also important to abstain from alcohol during the entire wound healing period. Generally, alcohol consumption should only resume half a month after the wound has completely healed and only after consulting a doctor.