Gauze Dressings

Gauze Dressing: Types and Best Uses for Wound Care

 

Wound care can require a multitude of dressings and wound coverings but gauze dressings are one of the most prevalent when treating any wound. No matter what type of wound you receive, the goal is to create the optimal healing environment. By creating this healing environment, you can expedite healing, minimize pain, and avoid potential infection. The question is, how do I do this? In order to start down the road to healing, typically the answer starts with a gauze dressing. I can give you some insight into some of the types of gauze dressings available and their best uses for wound care. Be sure to visit our website www.healthproductsforyou.com for all your wound care needs as well as a variety of gauze dressings.

What Is a Gauze Dressing?

I’m sure one time or another in your life you have heard or seen gauze dressing, but what exactly is or makes a gauze dressing? Gauze dressings are often mistaken for bandages. Gauze dressings are typically used to:

• Stop bleeding
• Absorb exudate
• Protect the wound
• Help create a healthy wound healing environment
• Prevent infection

Often gauze dressings are made from a sterile, breathable, and cotton material that comes in pads, rolls, and sponges. Gauze dressings can also have antimicrobial or even medical honey applied to it for advanced wound care. The weave of this material doesn’t stick to the actual wound itself.

Types and Uses of Gauze Dressings

As I mentioned before, there are a plethora of wound care dressings and gauze dressings are just one type but there is also a wide variety of gauze dressings. The breathable material of gauze dressings allows each wound to breathe while absorbing exudate from the wound. It also can help produce a moist wound bed that is conducive to prompt healing. When determining what type of gauze dressing you need, it depends upon your type of wound. Obviously, material, sterility, and ease of application/removal are some of the basic considerations. Also, finding the right gauze dressing for your wound can be more cost-effective rather than paying for the bells and whistles of a different wound care dressing. Some features you might want to consider:

• For sensitive, low drainage wounds look to non-adhesive dressings or petrolatum gauze.
• Abdominal pads or high absorbency cause for wounds that have heavy exudate.
• Drain sponges and abdominal pads are good for postsurgical wounds depending upon their location.
• Packing gauze can be good for infected wounds.

Your doctor or wound care nurse can point you to the right type of gauze dressing for your specific wound. Several types of gauze dressings can include:

1. Gauze Sponges: Useful when treating a wound that has high exudate, this type of gauze dressing is low linting and is available in a wide range of ply options. Their makeup is ideal for wound cleaning and applying antiseptics/antibacterial ointment.
2. Gauze Pads: These gauze dressings can be used for a wide variety of wound care treatments such as cleaning, dressing, or simply cushioning wounds.
3. Non-Adherent Dressings: Ideal for wounds with low exudate, these gauze dressings won’t stick to burns, sensitive skin, or healing wounds. They don’t have any adhesive and can help with pain management during removal. These are often used as secondary dressings to hold other dressings in place.
4. Petrolatum Gauze Dressings: The healing process of any wound benefits from a moist wound bed and wounds such as burns, skin grafts, and abrasions are ideal for this type of gauze dressing due to their gel construction.
5. Drain Sponges: Pre-cut into squares, these gauze dressings prevent infection by absorbing fluids from the wound. Often they are used for surgical drains, intravenous catheters, and other medical tubing.
6. Abdominal Pads: As these were once designed for soldiers in battle, they are also known as Army Dressing Pads (ADP) and they are designed to prevent blood from leaking through the back of the dressing. They are ideal for wounds with heavy exudate as well as large or heavily exuding wounds after surgery.
7. Wounds Packing Gauze: Can be used for deep or tunneling wounds and can offer your wound an optimal and sanitary exudate absorption.

Our Best Woundcare Dressings