The Role of Hydrocolloid Dressings in the Prevention and Treatment of Scars

1. Appropriate replacement time for hydrocolloid dressings

The hydrocolloid dressing is simple and convenient to use, and does not need to be replaced frequently. It usually takes 3 to 5 days to replace it. At this time, because the dressing absorbs exudate and the viscosity decreases, it will not cause pain and injury when removing. After the hydrocolloid dressing absorbs the exudate, it will turn into a gel, which will swell locally and turn white. Therefore, attention should be paid to observe the degree of exudate absorption of the dressing during use, and the whitened area should be replaced in time when it is close to the edge of the dressing (such as 1 cm).

Hydrocolloid dressing is highly viscous and its viscosity will only decrease after it absorbs enough exudate. If it is used for a too short time, the skin and wounds may be damaged when the dressing is removed. Especially the new granulation tissue and epithelium are more fragile, and easy to be damaged, so the use time of hydrocolloid should not be too short, and the manufacturer's recommendations should be followed.

In clinical practice, it often happens that the hydrocolloid dressing is removed within a short period of time due to the lack of understanding of the characteristics of the dressing. For example, during the prevention of intraoperative pressure ulcers, due to the strong viscosity of the dressing, it is easy to cause skin damage during removal; especially for elderly patients, whose skin is dry and fragile and can be easily damaged during dressing changes or removal. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the use of hydrocolloid dressings for pressure ulcer prevention or phlebitis treatment. In addition, when the hydrocolloid dressing is removed, it should not be forcibly torn off. It should be pressed on one side of the dressing with one hand, and the dressing should be lifted slowly while pulling to the opposite side with the other hand.

2. The role of hydrocolloid dressings in the prevention and treatment of scars

The role of silicone dressings for the prevention and treatment of scars has been proven, but what about the role of hydrocolloids? A prospective study found that in the process of treating scars with hydrocolloid dressings, the itching and pain of the patients were significantly relieved after two months, the flexibility of the scars was also increased, and the pigmentation was also reduced, indicating that the hydrocolloid dressings can alleviate the symptoms of scars. Is it very powerful?

3. There are differences between different brands of hydrocolloid dressings

Products from different companies vary widely in structure, extensibility, exudate management capabilities, breathability, and more. There are many products on the market, but few studies have compared different brands of products, possibly due to the lack of uniform standards for dressings. The hydrocolloid dressings of some manufacturers are not very sticky at first, and the surrounding areas of the dressings are easy to roll up. As time goes on, the stickiness gradually increases, which leads to too tight adhesion in the middle of the dressings, which can easily lead to skin damage. In terms of the hydrocolloid dressings of other manufacturers, the air permeability does not increase after the gelation process occurs, which may easily lead to the occurrence of wound maceration. When purchasing, you should choose a hydrocolloid dressing with medium viscosity, strong ductility, and high air permeability, which can be applied to most wounds.

In conclusion, as an excellent sealing dressing, the transparent hydrocolloid dressing can effectively protect the wound, prevent the invasion of bacteria and viruses, effectively maintain a moist healing environment, and can reduce the pain and wound damage during dressing changes. Please choose it with confidence.