Wound care has always been a part of our lives, ever since we were youngsters. Most people’s first aid to a skinned knee was antibiotic and septic or band-aid, but is this the ideal method to treat all wounds? We probably aren’t treating wounds properly even now. Instead of slapping a band-aid on everything, there’s a better way to promote healing while reducing hazards.
Everyone’s wound therapy is distinct, and it typically depends on various things. Our age and skin type affect how we manage a wound and avoid infection. Other determinants include the type of wound, severity, location, and other considerations. Infection prevention is critical, but wound therapy does much more. Healing time increases, and our health is protected when we take proper care of our wounds with the appropriate wound dressings. A variety of factors influence the type of dressing we should use.
This article will focus on various types of wound dressing available for treating various ailments and when each should be used. But first, what are dressings?
A wound dressing comes into immediate touch with a wound to help it heal and avoid problems. Different wound dressings are used depending on the type of wound, but they all aim to keep the wound from becoming infected.
Different types of wound dressings
In today’s medical world, there are a plethora of wound dressings to choose from. We’ll go over the most prevalent ones in this article. The following are some of them:
Silver is utilized in various dressings and topical treatments. Silver is an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-yeast agent with a broad spectrum of activity. Silver has also been shown to minimize wound inflammation and aid healing.
The amount of silver required to have a bacteriostatic or bactericidal effect is determined by the wound environment. It is effective against surface pathogens, but it may not be effective against bacteria penetrating deep into the wound bed. As a result, silver is recommended for minor wound infections where it can help reduce the bacterial count after it is detected.
Self-adhesive hydrocolloid dressings are non-breathable. They aid to speed up healing by creating moist conditions and are composed of a flexible material for added comfort. Hydrocolloid dressings have a material on the surface that contains polymers that absorb water and produce a gel. Because this gel comes into close contact with the wound, it speeds up the healing process.
These dressings are commonly used for necrotic wounds, compression wraps, pressure or venous ulcers, and burns. They are one of the longest-lasting dressings available, and their self-adhesive qualities make them simple to apply.
Hydrogel is a fantastic alternative for dry wounds that need extra help healing. It works by adding moisture to the wound, allowing it to heal faster and breaking down dry, dead tissue. This procedure aids in improving the user’s comfort while also lowering the pain caused by dead tissue. A cooling gel is utilized in several hydrogel products for added comfort.
Wound dressings made of hydrogel are routinely used on various wounds. Hydrogel dressings are required for wounds that produce little or no fluid. They’re also utilized to treat wounds that are excruciatingly painful or necrotic. Hydrogel is beneficial for infected wounds and second-degree burns because of the extra liquid in these dressings, which encourages cellular development.
Foam dressings are another typical type of wound treatment. Depending on the manufacturer, they’re exceedingly soft and usually quite absorbent. Foam dressings protect the wound and maintain a healthy moisture balance while it heals. Foam dressings are ideal for wounds with bad odors because of this.
The absorbency of foam dressings aids in speedier wound healing by efficiently absorbing excess fluid from the wound’s surface while keeping it wet. Foam dressings keep moisture inside the wound, promoting faster healing and protecting the region from infection. Water vapor can penetrate the form dressing due to its particular permeability, but germs cannot.
Transparent dressings are routinely utilized when a clinician wishes to monitor a specific wound’s healing closely. Compared to foam dressing, transparent dressings are considerably easier to monitor because they are manufactured using clear film. Transparent dressings are commonly utilized on larger, more intricate wounds.
Transparent dressings are the most usual choice for surgical incision sites, ulcers, and burns. Because of the thinness of the film, these dressings are more comfortable and flexible. When used properly, transparent dressings speed the healing, keep the wound clean, and monitor any possible problems.
Alginate dressings are on the other end of the spectrum. Alginate dressings are very absorbent and treat wounds with many drainages. Alginate dressings can hold 20 x of their weight, ideal for severe or deep wounds. In addition to being absorbent, Alginate dressings also produce a gel-like substance that aids in the healing process.
The best candidates are packing wounds, burns, venous ulcers, and higher-state pressure ulcers. Applying alginate to a wound that is already dry will slow down the healing process and produce an even drier environment. Only apply alginate to wet wounds and have a lot of liquid discharge.
Collagen wound dressings are the final option. Chronic wounds with a slow or halted healing time are typically treated with these dressings. We can also use them to treat burns, ulcers, pressure sores, surgical wounds, transplant sites, and other injuries that affect a broad part of the body.
Collagen dressings are different from the others we’ve talked about because they operate as a temporary second skin that permits new cells to develop and thrive. It would take a lot longer to mend without it.
Final Thoughts
If you wish to protect your loved ones against the complications of wounds of any size or type, you must be prepared. Stocking up on wound care supplies and any essential wound dressings is the best way to be ready.
AvaCare Medical is a well-known wound treatment provider with excellent chronic wound solutions. We want to help the healthcare system, patients, and other facilities that need supplies to save money. AvaCare Medical has everything from gauze pads and bandages to tapes and adhesives. Visit our website to see our very own ePharmacy and get what’s the best for you! For more information, please email us here at info@avacaremedical.com or call us at 1-877-813-7799.