Advanced Wound Care Dressings | Wound Cure

Wound Care Dressings are used in home healthcare, nursing, hospitals, hospice, veterinary, tattoo and burn treatment centers. Having the right type of wound dressing is critical to healing, reducing pain and preventing infection. It is also critical for wounds to be covered by the right dressing, to apply compression for hemorrhage, to protect the wound and surrounding tissue, as well as to create a moist condition for healing.  

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) has defined the stages of pressure ulcers in four stages and it is important to identify the type of wound before selecting the proper dressing.

Gauzes or gauze sponges are a dry dressing made of woven or non-woven material and are available in a wide variety of shapes, plies and sizes. They are used for a minor cut or wound that will dry by its self.  Use on  infected wounds, wounds which require packing, wounds that are draining, wounds requiring very frequent dressing changes.

Non-Adherent Pads/Island Dressings are specially constructed to not stick or adhere to the dried secretions of a wound. Non-adherent bandages help decrease damage to healing skin and can be placed straight on the wound site. Non-absorbing dressing can be put over any lightly draining wound, acute wound or skin tear and is often used for securing devices or protecting catheter sites. Removal does not create trauma to the site nor will it cause pain or leave residue.

Semi-Permeable Film Dressing is a sterile thin sheet of polyurethane coated with hypoallergenic acrylic adhesive. They're impermeable to fluids and bacteria but are permeable to air and water vapor. It has a transparent surface to allow one to check the wound condition easily. This dressing is most suitable for shallow wound with low exudate, partial-thickness wounds, donor sites, minor burns, stage I and stage II pressure ulcers.

Hydrocolloid Dressings are a wafer type of dressing that will absorb, swell and turn into a gel when exudate is absorbed. This type of gel creates a warm and moist environment that enhances the healing process and is important for a wound that produces light or heavy exudate. Use on  burns, pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, they're useful for wounds at high risk of infection and can be used for 3 to 7 days.

Hydrogel Dressing is composed mostly with water in a complex network or fibers that keep the polymer gel intact. The high level of water in this type of dressing helps keep the wound moist and fastens the healing process while removing dead tissue. Ideal for dry to minimally exudating wounds, wounds with dead tissue, wounds with little to no excess fluid, painful wounds, necrotic wounds, pressure ulcers, donor sites, second degree or higher burns and infected wounds.

Foam Dressings are padded to protect and cushion the wound while keeping the environment moist. They transmit moisture vapor and oxygen and provide thermal insulation to the wound bed. Foam dressings are good for moderate to severe exudating wounds and very useful for early stage pressure ulcers because they guard the whole area against friction, pressure or shear.  Use on pressure ulcers, minor burns, skin grafts, diabetic ulcers, donor sites, venous ulcers.

Calcium Alginates Foam Dressing contain seaweed derived material that is high in calcium. These dressings are good for wounds with moderate to high exudate. When the calcium from the alginate dressing contacts the wound, it will be exchanged with sodium from the wound fluid to turn the dressing into the shape of the wound. Use on venous ulcers, pressure ulcers in stage 3 or 4, wounds with tunneling, wounds with heavy exudate.

Silicone Foam Dressings help absorb and contain a large quantity of exudate from wounds, but need to be changed daily. Silicone foams consist of a polymer of silicone elastomer derived from two liquids, which, when mixed together, form a foam while expanding to fit the wound shape forming a soft open-cell foam dressing. In addition, silicone foam dressings protect the area around the wound from further damage. Use on venous ulcers, wounds with tunneling, wounds with heavy exudate.

Silver Foam Dressings have silver ions added into dressing. For many years silver ions have been used as an antimicrobial agent particularly in the treatment of burns (in the form of silver sulfadiazine cream). Silver ions interfere with bacterial electron transport to impair cell replication. Use for infected or critically colonized/non-healing wounds, Silver ions are active against a broad range of bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Inappropriate Use of Dressings May Lead to Unwanted Results

When it comes to selecting a wound dressing, most everyone will agree that seeking the advice of a medical professional is the best practice. And always remember to change your wound dressings on the schedule your provider gives you.