Hydrogel dressings are a type of new wound dressing developed under the guidance of moist wound healing principles. Hydrogel dressings can be used for the treatment of various types of wounds, especially for chronic non-healing wounds where they have significant efficacy. The absorbency and viscosity of hydrogels meet the basic requirements of an ideal dressing, which are to protect the wound, provide a suitable environment to promote wound healing, and be easy to remove without damaging new tissue. Of course, hydrogel dressings still have room for further development, such as improving absorbency and enhancing antibacterial capabilities.
Ⅰ. Hydrogel 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 a major problem in clinical nursing. Hydrogel dressings are often used to treat stage II-III pressure ulcers. Many clinical studies have shown that hydrogel 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 during dressing changes. For example, the results of a clinical study on stage III pressure ulcers showed that the treatment effect using 3M hydrogel dressings was significantly better than that of the control group using iodine disinfection, TDP lamp irradiation, and gauze bandaging, and the healing time was significantly shorter than that of the control group.
Ⅱ. Hydrogel dressings in wound care
Hydrogel dressings can also be used in the care of acute wounds. The healing time of skin-deficient wounds treated with hydrogel dressings is about 40% shorter than that of traditional treatments. Hydrogel dressings also have similar beneficial effects in the treatment of surface wounds and surgical wounds. In addition, hydrogel dressings have the effect of reducing pain in the treatment of burns.
Ⅲ. Hydrogel dressings are suitable for children
Hydrogel is also an ideal dressing for children. After using hydrogel dressings, active children can still play freely without being restricted since the closed characteristic of the dressing can protect the wound from being infected by any possible bacteria. In addition, hydrogel dressings do not cause pain when removed from children.
Ⅳ. How to use hydrogel dressings
1. First, clean the skin at the pressure site with warm water; then use saline to scrub the skin at the pressure site. If there is a wound, rinse the wound with saline, and gently wipe off the skin around the wound. Tear off the protective paper, cover the dressing with an adhesive side on the wound, and then tear off the non-contact protective film.
2. Change the dressing according to the amount of wound exudate and the condition of the dressing itself, generally, it is changed once every one to three days. When the ulcer sticker or transparent sticker saturated, the appearance of the dressing turns into a milky white and transparent state, indicating the need to replace the dressing; when the foam thickness of the decompression sticker decreases by half, it should be replaced; if there is leakage, replace the dressing in time.
3. When using decompression stickers, remove the foam circle marked with orange according to the size of the wound, so that the non-foam area is about 1.5-2cm larger than the wound. Tear off the protective paper of the hydrogel dressing, press it lightly from one side to the other, cover the wound, and then tear off the protective paper on the micro-porous adhesive, gently cover it on the wound.
