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Different Types of Wound Dressings
Different Types of Wound Dressings

Oneofthemostsignificantchangesintheunderstandingofwoundhealingprocessandinwoundmanagementisthetheoryofmoistwoundhealing.Asamatteroffact,itisbeyondthetheorystageandhasbecomeanestablishedandasuperiormethodofwoundtreatment.Ithasbeenobservedthatwhenawoundismaintainedinamoistenvironment,epithilealizationoccursatamuchfasterrateascomparedtoadrywound.Manyadvancedwounddressingsworkonthisprincipleandprovideamoistenvironment.

CommonTypesofDressings

HydrocolloidDressing

Thisisoneofthemostwellknownandwidelyusedtypesofwounddressings.Itformsageluponcontactwiththewound,whichcreatesamoistenvironmentandpromotesquickhealing.Duetoitshighlyabsorptivenature,itisanexcellentdressingfromheavilyexudatingwounds.Itpromotesautolyticdebridement(body'sownmechanismofremovingdeadtissuesbyusingenzymes).Thebenefitsofhydrocolloiddressingsincludebeingwaterproof,easilyremovableandappropriateforextendedwearofuptosevendays.

HydrogelDressing

Thisdressingismadeofinsolublepolymersandgelsaftercontactwithwoundexudates.Itkeepsthewoundmoistandpromotesautolyticdebridement.Hydrogeldressingisespeciallysuitableforburnsduetoitscoolingeffect.Therearedifferenttypesofhydrogeldressingswithvaryinglevelsofgelthickness.Itisamoderatelyextendedweardressingthatcanbeleftinplaceforuptothreedays.

FoamDressing

Thiswounddressingconsistsoffoamsheetononesideandtheothersideactsasasemi-permeablemembranewhichallowsexudatestopassthrough.Itisespeciallysuitableforheavilyexudatingwoundsbecauseofitshighabsorptioncapacity.Itdoesnotneedtobechangedfrequentlyandcanbeleftinplaceforuptosevendays.Thisdressingnormallydoesnotcomewithadhesiveandneedsotherdressingorbandagetokeepitinplace.

AlginateDressing

Thisisaneco-friendlywounddressingmadeoutofseaweed,whichishighlyabsorbentandformsageluponcontactwiththewound.Thisgelcreatesamoistwoundenvironment.Alginatedressingissuitableforexudatingwoundsandnotfordrywounds.Thisisalsoanon-adhesivedressingandrequirestheuseofabandagetokeepthedressinginplace.

Itisimportanttorememberthatdifferenttypesofwoundsrequiredifferenttypesofdressingandapplicationofaninappropriatedressingorbandagecanactuallycauseharmtothewound.Ifthewounddoesn'tseemtobegettingbetterafteracoupleofdaysorshowssignsofinfection,adoctorshouldbeimmediatelyconsulted.

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