Hydrocolloid adhesive bandages are dressings made by mixing elastic polymeric water gel with synthetic rubber and adhesive substances. The most common gel in the dressing is hydroxyethyl cellulose, which can firmly stick to the skin edges of the wound and swell 12 times when it absorbs exudate.
Ⅰ. Characteristics of hydrocolloid adhesive bandages:
1. They have the ability to absorb wound exudate. After absorbing exudate, the hydrophilic particles in the hydrogel dressing can form a semi-solid substance similar to a gel, adhere to the base of the wound, and provide and maintain a moist environment conducive to wound healing.
2. They are adhesive and can form an occlusive wound. The closed healing environment promotes angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation, thereby accelerating wound healing.
3. They can play a debridement role. On the one hand, the hydrogel contains endogenous enzymes that promote the dissolution of fibrin; on the other hand, the closed environment provided by the hydrogel dressing is conducive to macrophages clearing away necrotic tissue.
Ⅱ. Scope of application of hydrocolloid adhesive bandages:
1. Transparent patches are mainly used for wounds with less exudate, such as superficial burns, partial skin burns, donor site wounds, wounds after surgery, and skin abrasions. The sacrococcygeal dressing in the transparent patch is suitable for sacrococcygeal wounds.
2. Ulcer patches 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 skin burns, donor site wounds, wounds after surgery, and skin abrasions.
3. Pressure relief patches are mainly used for the prevention and treatment of pressure sores.
4. Butterfly-shaped patches are mainly used for the prevention and treatment of pressure sores in difficult-to-fix areas.
Hydrocolloid adhesive bandages are mainly used to protect wounds in patients and promote wound healing. They are mainly used for patients with pressure sores. Hydrocolloid adhesive bandages like extra large hydrocolloid dressings can be directly attached to the healed pressure ulcer wounds or wounds that are about to form pressure ulcers. This type of gel dressing has good elasticity and permeability, which can help pressure sore patients recover from wounds and prevent the worsening of pressure sore wounds. The specific use of hydrocolloid adhesive bandages is to first clean and disinfect the patients' local wounds, wait for them to dry, and then directly attach the hydrogel dressing to the wound. It is not necessary to replace it daily. It is recommended to replace it once every 3-5 days. When replacing it, pay attention to observing the recovery situation. If the wound is gradually recovering, it can continue to be used; if the wound is gradually worsening, it is recommended to use other methods for treatment to avoid delaying the condition.
Although hydrocolloid adhesive bandages have the above functions, for scar repair, surgery, skin grinding surgery, lasers, freezing and other methods are mainly used. Surgical excision is mainly used for severe scars, but most of them cannot be completely removed, and new scars may form after surgery. Skin grinding surgery uses an electric grinding instrument or microcrystalline grinding to eliminate skin surface lesions but is not recommended for people with scar-prone constitution. In addition, lasers mainly include dot matrix lasers, CO2 lasers, etc., which use thermal and photochemical effects to cause scars to be damaged and necrotic. Freezing uses refrigerants to produce low temperatures, causing scar tissue to undergo necrosis, thereby achieving the treatment goal.
