Shower normally. It is perfectly fine for the wound to get wet in the shower, however, if you do this, after your shower, clean the wound as above and replace the dressing. Percival SL, Bowler P, Woods EJ. Assessing the effect of an antimicrobial wound dressing on biofilms. Wound Repair Regen 2008; 16(1):52-7.

Spraying a wound cleanser: Your physician will explain how much to spray on your wound to clean it.Hydrogel are organic polymers with a cross-linked hydrophilic matrix. They are usually made up of about 90% water that is suspended in a gel base. Hydrogel dressings are useful in maintaining a moist wound bed and rehydrating wounds to facilitate healing through autolytic debridement. Thus, they are often useful in wounds with small amounts of eschar or that are predisposed to desiccation. Unlike alginates and hydrocolloids, they are not dependent on the wound bed to maintain moist wound microenvironments [8]. There are a wide variety of hydrogels, but these are three main types: Alginate dressings maintain a physiologically moist microenvironment that promotes healing and the formation of granulation tissue. Alginates can be useful in a variety of situations, particularly in sloughy wounds which also produce a degree of exudate. The gel which is formed as these products absorb exudate forms a moist covering over the slough and prevents it from drying out. Alginates require moisture to function correctly, so are not indicated for dry sloughy wounds or those covered with hard necrotic tissue. To hold your other dressings in place, you may be instructed to use a bandage wrap. This usually comes in a roll. Examples are Ace Bandages and Coban wraps. It is very important not to put these on too tightly. Only wrap them tight enough to keep everything in place, but not so tight that they are painful. The coban wrap should be placed in separate strips, as this type of wrap specifically gains tightness with every pass and overtightening this wrap can have serious consequences. Due to limited waiting room space, please try to limit family or friends to one or two persons. This will ensure your comfort, as well as the comfort of other patients who will also be having surgery the same day.

I hope that this overview helps clarify this huge topic by categorising the various dressings according to their properties and clinical indications. The aetiology of the wound and identification of any potential factors contributing to wound healing impairments (e.g. ischaemia, oedema, pressure) is crucial for choosing the right dressing from a myriad of wound care tools. It is also important to bear in mind that inappropriate use of dressings may lead to unwanted effects and serious complications as, for instance, when using an occlusive dressing on an infected wound, tight dressings on a patient with peripheral vascular disease, or even causing an allergic reaction (not uncommonly) because we may have forgotten to ask whether the patient has a known allergy to that particular dressing material. Changing the dressings disturbs the wound bed and causes hypoxia, vasoconstriction, cooling, and re-injury to tissues. With over 3000 different types of dressings on the market today it is easy to become overwhelmed and confused by the options. The secret to understanding the various types of dressings is to learn the basic properties of the main classes as outlined in Figure 1. The dressings within each family are not identical; however, they do possess many of the same properties. Advantages of gauze dressings include a low material expense and a readily available supply. They make excellent surgical bandages and can be used in small, non-complicated wounds or as secondary dressings. Gauze dressings remain the ‘gold standard’ to which the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) compares most dressings. After cleansing, you will need to make sure your wound or incision is dry before applying any dressings. In general, you should pat yourself dry with a clean towel and avoid rubbing vigorously. Types of Dressings

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If needed, your physician might give you instructions and materials to do dressing changes on your own. This usually involves removing your existing dressings, cleansing your wound or incisions, sometimes adding ointments, and replacing your dressings. If you are instructed to do dressing changes, make sure you understand what dressings to use and how often to change them. It can initially be helpful to ask your physician or one of their assistants to show you how to change your dressing. You can also ask them to watch while you practice changing your dressing to make sure you are doing it correctly. Wound Cleansing Wound care dressings (Figure 1 above) can be broadly divided into two broad groups, non-absorbing (e.g. films) and absorbing. Interactive dressings help control the microenvironment by combining with the exudate to form hydrophilic gel or by controlling the flow of exudate from the wound into the dressing (using semipermeable membranes). They may also stimulate activity in the healing cascade and speed up the healing process. Thorn RMS, Austin AJ, Greenman J, et al. In vitro comparison of antimicrobial activity of iodine and silver dressings against biofilms. J Wound Care 2009; 18(8):343-46. Sheet hydrogel: The hydrogel is suspended inside a thin mesh that can overlap with skin without harming it – which can occur with some other wound dressings. It is available in a variety of sizes and the sheets can often be cut to fit the shape required.

Cover the wound with Aquaphor or Vaseline and then apply a bandage for 1-2 weeks. Change the bandage daily. Can be useful in keeping the wound bed moist if impregnated with petrolatum, iodinated compounds, or other material AdvantagesClean the wound with Q-Tips soaked in tap water. Remove all crusted material and any white/yellow material that can come off easily. Do not reuse Q-Tips. If the burn is severe enough, your doctor may tell you to go to the hospital. Listen to these directions and receive medical attention as soon as possible.