Quick guide to wound care dressings

There are over 6,000 types of wound care dressings available today, according to Wound Source. That's a lot for even medical professionals to keep up with. However, there are various categories of wound dressings designed for specific types of wounds. When you're injured, your doctor will choose the type of dressing that's best suited for the wound, as well as its location and severity. Here's a quick guide to the most common categories of wound dressings: There are several types of wound dressings that promote proper healing. Alginates These dressings are made from brown seaweed or kelp, and sometimes have an extra dose of calcium, silver or honey. According to Wound Educators, alginate dressings react with serum and wound exudate to form a gel, creating a moist environment that promotes proper healing. As such, alginates are often used for wounds with moderate to high levels of exudate. Composites These combination wound dressings have multiple layers for separate functions. Wound Educators described the three layers most common in composite wound dressings: Inner contact: Non-adherent to avoid irritating the wound bed. Middle: Absorbs moisture to prevent maceration. Outer: Prevents bacteria from reaching the wound bed. Films Thin, transparent and flexible, film dressings allow visibility to the wound and can conform to the body's movement. They're often used in areas where friction is common, such as joints, according to Wound Care Cen...
Source: Advanced Tissue - Category: Dermatology Authors: Tags: Wound Care Wound care products Source Type: news