When it comes to treating wounds, using the correct dressing is vital to prevent infection, protect from more damage, and promote faster healing.
A wound dressing can be any material that comes into contact with a wound – but it needs to stop the bleeding, prevent further damage, and absorb blood and other fluids.
The best dressing for a wound will depend on the type of injury, the location, size, and severity. If the wound is very deep or more than half an inch long, you should seek medical assistance immediately.
To make choosing the correct dressing for wounds easier, here’s a list of the five most common dressings and when you should use them.
1. Foam
Some of the most common wound dressings are made from foamed polymer, and they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They are versatile and can be used to dress wounds of varying severity.
Although allevyn life foam dressings are excellent for absorbing fluids, they also keep the area moist to promote faster healing.
Foam dressings usually come with an adhesive border and are encased in transparent film. Not only does this prevent bacteria from entering the wound, but it also makes foam dressings easy to remove because the adhesive border does not make contact with the wound.
Because foam dressings are thicker than most other dressings, they also help cushion the wound from further injury.
2. Gauze
Because they are inexpensive and widely available, dressings made from cloth or gauze are the most commonly used dressings on the market.
Gauze dressings are recommended for broken skin and minor open wounds – like a scraped knee or a cut. Gauze dressings are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with or without adhesive borders.
Made from polyester, cotton, silk, linen, or rayon, gauze dressings are highly breathable and permeable. Because gauze dressings do not seal tightly against the skin, they allow water and blood to pass through and air to circulate – they are ideal for wounds that need to dry out.
Usually, gauze dressing will be used as the first layer of protection for a wound, but gauze sponge can also be used and secured in place with a gauze bandage roll.
3. Hydrogel
Because hydrogel dressings are 80% to 90% glycerin or water, they are designed to soothe burns and wounds, reduce pain, prevent infection, and provide moisture to the affected area. However, because they are non-absorbent, they are not suitable for all wounds.
The moisture in hydrogel dressings promotes faster healing because it breaks down dry or dead tissue, encouraging cell regeneration. The moisture in hydrogels also has a soothing, cooling effect.
Due to their permeability, hydrogels are not as effective at creating a protective barrier against bacteria. Another downside to hydrogels is that they can dehydrate quickly.
Hydrogel dressings can be sheets, saturated gauze, or gels, and they are the best dressings for second-degree burns, donor sites from skin grafts, pressure ulcers, and wounds that have become inflamed or infected.
4. Calcium Alginate
Calcium alginate dressings are biodegradable because they are made from sodium and seaweed fibers. Because these dressings are so absorbent (they can absorb 20 times their weight), they are perfect for deep wounds with a lot of draining fluid.
Because calcium alginate dressings seal tightly against the skin, they may trap an odor-producing bacteria that can be mistaken for an infection.
Calcium alginate dressings come in sheets, applicators, and ropes. Sheets are good for absorbing draining fluids from the wound, while ropes and applicators are used to fill in cavities and tunnels in the skin.
Calcium alginate is recommended for wet injuries that need to drain – like deep injuries such as packing wounds, burns, and venous ulcers. However, it is not ideal for dry wounds because it will make the area even drier.
Calcium alginate dressings are usually secured in place with a second dressing, such as gauze.
5. Collagen
Collagen dressings are unique because they provide a temporary layer that acts like skin. This ‘second skin’ encourages cell regeneration and promotes a faster healing time.
Not only does collagen help wounds heal faster, but it also removes dead skin tissue, allows new blood vessels to form, and tightens the edges of the wound site.
Collagen dressings are best used on chronic injuries that are taking a long time to heal – such as pressure sores, ulcers, transplant sites, surgical sites, liposuction sites, and wounds with a large surface area.
