Thin Film:

Semi-permeable membrane dressing permeable to oxygen and water vapor. These dressings are impermeable to bacteria and environmental contaminants and maintain a moist wound environment. These dressings should not be used in draining, necrotic or infected ulcers.

Examples: Acu-Derm, Blister Film, Op-Site, etc…

Hydrocolloid:

Moldable wafer dressings which may interact with wound exudate to form a moist gel which protects the wound bed.  Avoid using these products in the presence of infection, excessive drainage or necrosis.

Examples: Duoderm Extra Thin, Duoderm CGF, Cutinova Hydro, Comfeel Ulcer, etc…

Alginates:

Products made of seaweed. Body fluids combine with the alginate and form a gel. These products provide a moist environment for healing. Eschar must be removed prior to applying an alginate; however, this product can remove slough from a necrotic ulcer. Alginates can dehydrate a low-exudating wound. 

Examples: Kaltostat, Melgisorb, CarboFlex, Fybron, etc…

Hydrogels/ Gels:

Non-adhesive, single polymer formulations that are useful for the treatment of granulating wounds. These dressings can lower the temperature of the wound thus reducing inflammation and providing pain relief. A secondary dressing must be used to keep the gel in place unless the dressing is in a firm form.

Examples: ClearSite, Nu-gel, DuoDerm Hydroactive Gel, Saf-Gel, Aquacel, Normlgel , etc…

Foams & Absorptives:

Products that absorb wound exudate and conform to the wound surface thus obliterating dead space.

Examples: Mepilex, Sof Foam, Lyofoam, Combiderm, Allyven, Sof-Sorb, Exu-Dry, etc…

Combination Dressings:

Inert material that conforms to the wound surface and helps obliterate dead space, maintain a moist wound surface and allow a moderate amount of wound exudate to pass through the dressing for absorption by a secondary dressing or an absorptive layer in the primary dressing.

Examples: Combiderm, Tielle, AllDress, CarboFlex, Transorbent, etc…

Collagens:

These products are made of bovine or fowl dehydrated collagen. Collagen from other than a human or synthetic source is not accepted by the body as usable amino acid chains. Collagen products work best in granulated wounds.

Examples: Fibracol, etc…

New Technologies

Acticoat: silver-coated antimicrobial barrier dressing.

Hyalofill: dressing composed of ester of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring major component of human skin

Surfactants:

Saline- or water-based cleansers that are non-irritating, non-toxic, no-rinse formulas that can be used in any wound. These products should be pH balanced to match the skin acid mantle. All cleansers should pass the Draize test, which measures irritation in the eye.

Examples: Shur-Clens, Saf-Clens, sterile saline, sterile water

Barriers & Lotions:

Skin protectants that allow for moisture-vapor transport and protect skin from maceration

Examples: SuperSkin, 3M No Sting Barrier, Aquaphor, Cavilon Barrier cream, etc…