With so many different options for wound care products on the market, it's definitely possible that you're not using the best available option for your situation. Wounds range in severity, moisture, pain levels, and accessibility, and finding a dressing that meets your specific combination of needs is sometimes a matter of trial-and-error. For example, maybe you've found the perfect waterproof wound dressing, but it comes off easily due to the flexible location of the wound.
Below, we've listed the three most common issues people have with dressing wounds and offered solutions for them.
The Dressing's Adhesive Doesn't Last
Perhaps you've found a dressing that's the right shape for your wound and plenty breathable, but it isn't waterproof, and thus the adhesive doesn't stick as long as you'd like it to. Sweat, showering, and even rain can be an issue when the adhesive is poor. If that's the case, consider using Tegaderm as a secondary dressing. It's a transparent film dressing which can be applied over your primary dressing material to form a breathable but waterproof seal, helping you get the most out of your purchase.
It's Painful to Remove the Dressing
Some medical tape and adhesives offer a tight seal, preventing contaminants and water from penetrating the wound environment, but removing them causes pain. This is especially true if you're treating a fresh wound or a burn, wounds that tend to be very sensitive on the skin. Instead of using any dressing or medical tape, switch to Ominifix; it's an easy-to-apply, secure, and flexible medical tape that is designed for sensitive skin. Thus, it's perfect for pain-free removal.
The Wound is in a Difficult Location
Certain spots of the body, such as elbows and knees, are difficult to keep dressed because the skin stretches with movement all day long. There are certain types of wound dressings designed specifically for hard-to-dress wound locations. There are two ways you could combat this: by trying a hyper-adhesive dressing such as Convatec DuoDERM hydrocolloid dressings, or by choosing a dressing that's very flexible and conformable, such as Convatec Aquacel.
Further Reading
Wound Dressings and Comparative Effectiveness Data
The Wound Healing Process: An Overview of the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms
