When it comes to wound care, there’s no shortage of dressings on the market — more than 3,000, to be precise!
Most fall into seven specific categories. We at Carthage Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing would like to familiarize you with each kind:
- Gauze: Probably the most popular wound dressing available and a great, inexpensive option. It’s available in many forms, including squares, rolls, strips, and sheets.
- Films: These are thin, flexible sheets of clear plastic (think Saran Wrap) that has an adhesive to stick to the skin (but not the wound). The clear nature of this dressing allows you to monitor the wound without having to remove the dressing.
- Gels: Gels are used to add moisture to dry wounds, but they are not effective against preventing bacteria from entering the wound. A secondary dressing is required when using a gel.
- Foams: Foams work similar to gauze in that it can absorb fluids and cover wounds. These contain an adhesive border that prevents bacteria from entering the wound.
- Alginates: These are dressings made from brown seaweed. It works naturally with the wound to form a gel that can be washed away before applying a new coat. Alginates also require a secondary dressing like gauze.
- Composites: Generally a combination of a gel and film, composite dressings are a useful option, but they are not very flexible (they are prepackaged in one size) and are generally more expensive than other options on this list.
- Hydrocolloids: Contain particles like gelatin, pectin, and cellulose with a strong film or foam adhesive. Wounds have a lower infection rate than any other item we’ve mentioned, but it can naturally produce a foul odor when it’s removed. This shouldn’t be confused as a sign of infection.
