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Wound care is essential for your overall health and well-being. Speeding up the healing process allows you to return to your regular life sooner. Finding the best wound care products is the first step in caring for your wound and helping to expedite its healing process. These products can range from basic first aid necessities to more comprehensive options. On this page we have compiled only well-established brands in wound care supplies, including Curad, Tegaderm, Kendall, Medi-Pak, Optifoam, Jobst, etc.
There are wounds that heal fast and those that are difficult to treat. The major element that may pose a hurdle to healing is infection. An infected wound will bring in further complications and can lengthen the healing process. Keeping the wound area moist and covered for several days can promote wound healing. Wounds with heavy exudate need to be kept drier while at the same time maintaining the right moisture level.
There are various wound care products designed to handle a simple gash, infected as well as difficult-to-treat wounds. Several concerns associated with wounds exist such as infection care, skin care, after-surgery care, how to take care of a deep wound, etc. Medical wound care supplies include a wide range of products to satisfy individual needs. There are wound dressings, gloves, wound preps, skin care products, wound cleansers, etc. These are briefly described below.
An important element in wound care is the wound dressing. There is a huge range in dressings with each defined for a specific function. Wound dressings provide the conditions for healing. They are designed to help facilitate the natural healing process of the body by providing an optimal healing environment. There are certain dressings that absorb heavy exudate but also maintain the right level of moisture for the wound to heal. There are dressings that initiate autolytic debridement promoting growth of new tissues. An awareness of the dressing attributes and your wound type will help you select the right dressing and manage your wound effectively.
Various types of wound dressings are available such as hydrogel dressings, alginate dressing (like Covidien Calcium Alginate Dressing), hydrocolloid dressing, hydrofiber dressings (like Aquacel Ag Extra Dressing), transparent dressings, honey dressings (like Medline Calazime Cream, Medi Honey Paste), foam dressings, absorbent dressings and many more. Each type is designed to treat varying levels of exudates and stages of the wound. Choosing wound dressing supplies will depend on three factors - wound type, its healing stage and location. Other than these, before selecting a wound dressing you will also have to keep in mind certain points – how dry or wet the wound is; will the dressing be used under compression; is the skin fragile; how cost effective it is, etc. A wound dressing may be key in wound care but is not the only product. To properly dress a wound there are several other elements needed.
First aid items and kits are a must-have in every home, school, office, and should be a part of your baggage while on a trip. These are for treatment of minor injuries and to be used for temporary relief in case of emergencies.
Medical gloves are essential for handling a wound. Types of exam gloves or medical gloves include examination, surgical, burn and therapy gloves. There is a choice in material, texture and color. You can choose your exam gloves from textured, lightly textured or smooth. They are available in latex, non-latex, nitrile and vinyl with powder and powder-free. Exam gloves also come in sterile and non-sterile options.
Before applying a wound dressing, it is essential to prep the wound site. For this you will need wound prep products. These will keep the wound free from infection and prepare the location for healing. Keeping a wound clean and learning how to clean an infected wound or clean a deep cut with these items is important. Antiseptic skin cleansers, gelatin sponge, prep pads and swabs, prepping balls, hydrogen peroxide and iodine solutions, and adhesive tissues can help in this process. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is also helpful in drawing out infection and fluid from a wound, thereby helping it heal quickly.
Gauze is meant to provide protection and cushion to a wound and is a common wound prepping product. Available are woven/non-woven, cotton/polyester sponges from recognized brands. There are drain and IV sponges, Iodoform packing strips, self-adhering and non-adhering pads, cover sponges, sterile and non-sterile sponges and more, all at great prices. Top quality gauzes are available from brands like Kendall, Avant Gauze and Bioguard.
Taking care of a wound also involves ensuring the skin around the wound site is free of infection. Using the right skincare products will help ensure healthy skin. There are protective creams and ointments (like Lantiseptic Skin Protectant Cream and Vitamin A And D Ointment), antimicrobial/antifungal products, moisture barriers (like Calmoseptine Ointment) , moisturizers/skin conditioners, skin cleansers as well as odor eliminators. These will contribute towards an optimal healing environment.
Abdominal pads form an integral part of wound care because they are highly absorbent and provide padding and protection to wounds. There are top brands like Kendall and Caring with options in sizes and drainage intensity to suit all types of wounds.
Also useful are sterile absorbent cotton filler eye pads designed to protect the eye against harmful rays, infectious dirt, and pollutants. These are found particularly handy after a minor eye surgery.
Wound cleansers, like topical wound sprays, saline wash, moisturizers, and wound flush, are also an essential element in wound care. They help remove foreign debris, bacteria and impurities from a wound site. These wound cleaning supplies are meant for multiple applications including cleaning ulcers, burns, tunneling, skin tears, incisions, traumatic wounds and minor skin irritations.
Compression bandages are used in the management of venous leg ulcers (read Treatments for Venous Ulcers) through the application of sustained graduated compression. The Unna Boot compression bandages use an application of a non-hardening zinc oxide paste in the treatment of venous stasis leg ulcers and skin graft on burn wounds.
There are several types of tapes and Tubular Bandages without which wound care would be incomplete. The latter supports a wound dressing and hold splints and IVs in place. There are lint-free and latex-free bandages along with packing strips, arthro-pads, burn pads, and gauze rolls for burns. Medical tapes have miscellaneous usage in wound care and are available in different material type like silk, soft cloth, paper, porous, silicone, foam, plastic and waterproof. They are conformable and soft yet with strong adhesive to ensure safe taping.
Dressing retainers hold bandages securely in place without needing adhesives. Range in dressing retainers include net bandages, spandages, elastic nets and tubular dressing retainers from trusted makers like Dumex/Derma Sciences, Medline, Medi-Tech, 3M and more.
Odor control is important during wound management. There could be odor issues associated with urine, feces, emesis and necrotic tissues or because of biological problems. Fresheners from MEDI-Aire, April Fresh and Enzymatic Rain are available.
Rinse the wound for 5 to 10 minutes under running water. Dip a gauze pad or cloth in saline solution or tap water, then use an alcohol-free wipe to gently dab or wipe the area – don't use antiseptic because it could harm the skin.
Airing out most wounds isn't beneficial because injuries need moisture to heal. Leaving a wound uncovered may dry out new surface cells, which can increase pain or slow the healing process.
Which wound management method will help cure the wound faster depends on the wound's type and severity. However, some wounds won't heal at all. In the case of a non-healing wound, it is recommended to get professional help and discuss the options at hand. Some wound therapy treatments may include -
Wound care treatment also involves suture removal, hence, we at HPFY offer suture removing scissors, tweezer-style staple removers, metal and plastic forceps and more for after-surgery wound care. Successful wound care means minimum scars. Browse through our solutions for effective lightening of wound scars in the form of specialized gels, wound care ointments, wound care creams and silicone gel sheets.The wound care products are from top-selling manufacturers like Medline Industries, McKesson, Dynarex, Smith & Nephew Medical, Molnlycke Wound Care and many more.
Superficial wounds should be cleaned with soap and warm water (showering daily) or a no rinse cleanser like Hollister Restore Wound Cleanser. Just pat the area dry before applying the bandage. Larger or deeper wounds can be cleaned with a wound cleanser such as Microcyn Spray. Showering is acceptable as well, allowing soap and water to run down the wound. Pat the area dry prior to applying the dressing.
Wound healing varies depending on many factors. A superficial wound can heal within 1-2 weeks for a healthy person. With deeper wounds, heal time is increased because the wound needs new tissue to grow from the bottom up to the skin level. Proper nutrition is vital for healing. Consider increasing protein in your diet along with a multivitamin. If your appetite is not great, nutritional supplement may help. Consider Abbott Juven Therapeutic Nutrition Powder for the adequate nutrients needed for wound healing.
The body sends a plasma fluid to the area of injury to start the healing process. This fluid brings nutrients for healing and takes away waste. Some of the fluid will take the path of least resistance and drain out of the opening in the skin. Drainage that is yellow, pink, orange or brown is acceptable colors. It usually does not have an odor. If you note an odor, be sure you are cleaning the wound regularly. Call your doctor for evaluation if the color changes to green or is very bloody. Also, monitor for redness and warmth that spreads outward from the wound at the skin margins. Again, contact your doctor.
If you are concerned about a wound that may not be healing, seek out a wound care specialist as early as possible to maximize the chance of complete healing. Some things to look out for include:
• Wounds that have not made progress in one week (commonly experienced by people with diabetes)
• Sores accompanied by increasing pain, redness, swelling, foul odor, or change in color
• Surgical wounds that have become infected
