Wound Preps

Wound Care: Understanding Wounds Prep Types and Their Best Applications

 

Each wound is different and creating the proper environment is critical in expediting the healing process. Prepping your wound properly sets the foundation for every wound to heal and avoid potential infection. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of wound prep types that can be perfect for any type of wound care needs.The trick is finding the right wound prep that matches your type of wound. Also, finding the proper wound prep can make any wound care plan economical. There are so many different types of wound prep types available it might make your head spin. I can give you some insight into understanding wounds prep types and what might be their best application for you. Be sure to visit www.healthproductsforyou.com for all your wound care needs.

Basic Wound Care 

As you can imagine, the sooner you start a wound care plan the better. Infections can be dangerous and even life-threatening if left unattended. As you start preparing to prep your wound, removing any debris that might be in the wound bed and the application of an antiseptic is critical to avoiding any infection. Just like building a home, this is the foundation you need to effectively minimize the risk of infection and expedite the healing process. By understanding the physiology of wound healing and some wound care basics you can increase your chance of success. By using the acronym DIME, you can properly start your wound care process.

DIME stands for:

• D: Debridement - Debris impairs healing and nonviable tissue must be debrided. Clinical research and evidence points to accelerated wound healing if necrotic or fibrous tissues are removed/debrided.
• I: Infection/Inflammation - It’s a no-brainer that bacteria directly impacts wound bed prep. Wound healing stalls if inflection or inflammation is evident.
• M: Moisture balance - Finding the proper balance of wound bed moisture is important. Too much moisture can damage the skin while inadequate moisture can impede cellular activity.
• E: Epithelial advancement - Biochemical imbalance and/or cellular dysfunction can stall wound bed progression by impeding epidermal cell and keratinocyte migration.

By evaluating your wound, it’s easier to find the proper wound care prep to match your type of wound since these four components address a wide range of pathophysiologic abnormalities of even chronic wounds.

Types of Wound Care Prep

If you were to walk into a local drugstore or pharmacy you would see a long aisle of wound care products. Which one is right for you? With all the available options, some of the best may be:

1. Wound Cleansers and Debriders: These types of wound care prep items remove debris and necrotic tissue from wounds or chronic ulcers. By discouraging bacteria growth, these wound prep items can help prevent infection and lead you down the right path to healing.
2. Wound Disinfectants: The first step in any successful wound care plan is cleaning your wound. Seems simple right? Disinfectants such as Betadine (Povidone-Iodine) or alcohol prep wipes can be basic wound disinfectants. Minor superficial wounds can utilize hydrogen peroxide. Disinfectants remove certain germs from the skin.
3. Antiseptics: These wound care prep items can kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms. With various types of antiseptics, some are appropriate for home use while others should be used in a clinical setting. Antiseptics kill germs on the skin.
4. Hydrogel Dressings: Depending on your wound, this type of dressing can cool and soothe your wound. It’s also good for infected wounds while facilitating wound repair and epithelialization.
5. Medical Honey Dressing: Many people don’t realize that honey (medical Honey that is) has antibacterial properties. These can hydrate the wound bed and promote autolytic debridement. Medical Honey is made from manuka honey, not the honey you put in your tea!!

Often, wounds will require a primary dressing used in conjunction with a secondary dressing such as gauze pads or bandages. The secondary dressing typically holds the primary dressing in place so there is no wound shearing and any wound prep benefit is maximized. The four basic types of wounds are:

1. Acute wounds
2. Chronic wounds
3. Minor cuts/scrapes
4. Post surgical wounds

When to Seek Medical Attention

If at any time during your wound care plan your wound becomes red or irritated you should contact your doctor or wound care specialist immediately. This could be a sign of an infection, as is a wound that is warm to the touch or exuding puss. Early intervention is always critical, don’t let an infection linger or fester!!

References:

1. 11 types of wound-care dressings and when to use each
2. Wound Care Guide 
3. Preparing the wound bed: Basic strategies, novel methods
4. Nurse Insights: What Are the Best Practices for Wound Care in Nursing?
5. What to know about antiseptics​

 

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