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What is a hydrocolloid dressing?

Hydrocolloid dressings are dressings made by mixing elastic polymeric hydrogels with synthetic rubber and viscous substances. The most common gel in dressings is hydroxymethylcellulose, which adheres firmly to the skin at the edge of the wound and can swell 12 times when absorbed exudate.

Characteristics of hydrocolloid dressings

1. It has the ability to absorb wound exudate. After absorbing the exudate, the hydrophilic particles in the dressing can form a semi-solid substance similar to a gel, which adheres to the base of the wound, providing and maintaining a wet environment conducive to wound healing.

2. It is sticky and can form an occlusive wound. A closed healing environment can promote the proliferation of microvessels and the formation of granulation tissue, thereby accelerating wound healing.

3. It can play a debridement function. On the one hand, the hydrocolloid contains endogenous enzymes, which can promote the dissolution of fibrin; on the other hand, the closed environment provided by the hydrocolloid dressing is conducive to the removal of necrotic tissue by macrophages.

Scope of application of hydrocolloid dressing

1. Transparent stickers are mainly used for wounds with less exudate, such as superficial burns, partial cortical burns, wounds in donor areas, wounds after surgery, and skin abrasions. The sacral special dressing in the transparent sticker is suitable for sacrococcygeal wounds.

2. Ulcer stickers are mainly suitable for wounds with low to moderate exudate, such as leg ulcers and pressure sores; they are also used for superficial burns, partial cortical burns, wounds in donor skin areas, wounds after surgery, and skin abrasions.

3. Decompression stickers are mainly used for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.

4. Butterfly stickers are mainly used for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers that are difficult to fix.

Fourth, the role of hydrocolloid dressing

Hydrocolloid dressings are mainly used for the treatment of chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers and venous ulcers. Pressure ulcers are a complication of long-term bedridden patients and are a major problem in clinical care. Hydrocolloid dressings are often used to treat stage II-III pressure ulcers. Many clinical studies have shown that hydrocolloid dressings are superior to traditional gauze dressings in terms of wound healing, the number of dressing changes, and the degree of pain caused to the patient when the dressing is changed.

1. Wound care

Hydrocolloid dressings can also be used for the care of acute wounds. For wounds in donorsites, the healing time after treatment with hydrocolloid dressings is about 40% shorter than traditional treatments [3]. Hydrocolloid dressings have similar beneficial effects in the treatment of superficial wounds and surgical wounds. In addition, hydrocolloid dressings have the effect of reducing pain in patients when treating burns.

2. Suitable for children

Hydrocolloid is also an ideal dressing for children. After the hydrocolloid dressing is applied, active children can still play unfettered because the airtight nature of the dressing protects the wound from possible exposure to bacteria. In addition, the hydrocolloid dressing does not cause pain to children when torn off.

Hydrocolloid dressings are a new type of wound dressings developed under the guidance of the principle of wet healing. Hydrocolloid dressings can be applied to the treatment of many different wounds, especially for chronic refractory wounds, with significant curative effects. The absorbent and viscous characteristics of hydrocolloids make them meet the basic requirements of ideal dressings, namely to protect wounds, provide a suitable environment for promoting wound healing, and be easy to remove without damaging new tissues. Of course, hydrocolloid dressings still have room for further development, such as improving absorbency and enhancing antibacterial ability.

How to use hydrocolloid dressing

1. First wash the skin of the patient's pressure area with warm water; then scrub the skin of the pressure area with normal saline. If there is a wound, rinse the wound with normal saline and gently dry the skin around the wound; tear off the protective paper, There is a dressing, the sticky side is covered on the wound, and then the non-contact protective film is torn off.

2. Replace the dressing, depending on the amount of wound exudation and the quality of the dressing itself. Generally, it is replaced once every 1-3 days; when the special dressing for ulcer stickers, transparent stickers and transparent stickers on the sacrum is absorbed and saturated, the appearance of the dressing becomes milky white. Transparent, it is prompted to replace the dressing at this time; when the foam thickness of the decompression sticker is reduced by half, it should be replaced; if there is leakage, please replace the dressing in time.

3. Use the decompression sticker. According to the size of the wound, remove the foam ring printed with the orange mark, so that the foam-free range is slightly larger than the wound by 1.5-2cm. Tear off the dressing protection paper, gently press the dressing from one side to the other, cover the wound, then tear off the protective paper on the microporous adhesive, and gently cover the wound opening.

Indications: All kinds of low to moderate exudative wounds, lower extremity venous ulcers, stage I-II bedsores, small area shallow burns, post-operative wounds, skin donor wounds, various superficial trauma and plastic surgery Wounds, granulation stage and epithelial formation stage of chronic wounds.