Types Of Dressing

Today, dressings are produced to fulfil specific requirements. No one type of dressing can meet all needs. The main types used for maintaining a healing environment are:

• Foam, with or without adhesive border
  • Suitable for wounds with light to heavy exudate, depending on dressing
  • Not suitable as a sole dressing for very dry sloughy or necrotic wounds
  • May stick to wound bed unless made with non-adherent wound contact layer
• Hydrocolloid
  • Occlusive and adhesive - can adhere to wet sites
  • Provide a moist environment in wounds with low to moderate exudate
  • Can help removal of slough, but may cause maceration and overgranulation
• Hydrogel
  • Amorphous water-based gels or sheets, require secondary dressing
  • Rehydrate dry necrotic wounds and promote autolytic debridement
  • May cause maceration if secondary dressing absorbency inadequate
• Hydrofibre and alginate
  • Non-woven dressings for heavily (hydrofibre) or moderately (alginate) exuding wounds, require secondary dressing
  • Change from dry sheet to soft gel as they absorb exudate
  • Will adhere to wound if exudate level inadequate