Different Types of Wound Dressings

To ensure effective, safe, and proper wound healing, the right type of wound dressing plays a vital role. It gets even more important when it comes to treating chronic, non-healing wounds. Most of the wounds heal within two to three months but when a wound is not healed within this period, it is known as chronic wounds. These wounds required proper care to be taken and only to be treated by doctors, medical professionals, or wound care experts to determine the most effective wound dressing depending on the type of wound. The selection of the type of wound dressing depends on various factors such as type of injury, size, location, and severity of wounds. Understanding different types of wound dressings can help you ensure effective wound healing.

What Are The Different Types Of Wound Healing?

There are plenty of different types of wound healing being used in the medical field. Each type of dressing is ideal for treating different wounds. Some of the most common types are here as follows:

1. Hydrocolloid - They are non-breathable, self-adhesive types of dressing focused on speeding wound healing treatment by producing moisture. It requires no taping and is suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive ones. They consist of a flexible material for convenient movements. Wound care surgeons use them for treating burns or draining wounds, necrotic wounds, pressure ulcers, and venous ulcers. The surface of this dressing is coated with a substance containing polysaccharides and other polymers to absorb water and form a gel that helps in cleaning the wound and protecting it from infection.
   
   
2. Hydrogel - This type of wound dressing is used for treating dry wounds or wounds with dead/damaged tissues by releasing moisture to the wound to further help breakdown dry or damaged tissues. Keeping the wound moisturized helps in promoting cell growth. In some of these hydrogel products, a cooling gel is used for increasing a patient's comfort levels. They are mostly used on a large range of wounds including painful and necrotic. The excess liquid in these dressings is good for treating second-degree burns and infected wounds.
   
   
3. Alginate - Alginate dressing is an effective type of dressing being used by wound care center Los Angeles to treat wounds that have a high amount of drainage, and burns including burns, venous ulcers, packing wounds and pressure ulcers, etc. This dressing is highly-absorbent and biodegradable made from seaweed to absorb wound exudate. It creates a gel to help heal wounds faster or burn quickly. It consists of sodium and seaweed fibers as well as is required to be changed every two days depending on the nature and the amount of wound liquid they absorb.
   
   
4. Foam - This type of wound dressing is used for treating wounds with heavy discharge or pressure ulcers. They are ultra-soft and highly absorbent due to the form material they are made of. This protects the wound by maintaining sufficient levels of moisture making it a good dressing option for wounds that exhibit foul-smelling odors. The absorbent power of this dressing promotes faster healing. They are available in a variety of shapes and sizes.
   
   
5. Transparent - Transparent dressings are used for curing the securement layer by allowing the transfer of moisture. This is a good option for covering an IV and is used by wound care treatment services to closely monitor the healing of a specific wound. Since they are made by using a clear film, it is easier to monitor wounds compared to a cloth or foam bandage. This is the reason they are often used on larger and complicated wounds.
   
   
6. Cloth - This is the most commonly used wound dressing due to its versatility and protection of open wounds from various types of minor injuries such as the scraped knee, a cut, or a wound in a sensitive area. This dressing is commonly used for small patches of broken skin.

If you want proper and effective wound healing in complicated wounds regardless of their size, type, or severity, it is important to be aware of various types of a wound dressing.