Wound Care Products & Dressings

Dressing selection is driven by one principle: match the dressing to the wound's moisture needs. Dry wounds need moisture donation; wet wounds need moisture absorption. Transparent films (like Tegaderm) are occlusive, retain moisture, and protect shallow wounds or IV sites — they have no absorptive capacity, so never place them on draining wounds. Hydrocolloids (like DuoDerm) provide a moist environment for partial-thickness wounds with minimal exudate; they self-adhere and are waterproof but should not be used on infected wounds because the occlusive seal traps bacteria. Hydrogels donate moisture to dry, necrotic, or granulating wounds and are soothing for painful wounds — they come as sheets or amorphous gel. Alginates (derived from seaweed) and hydrofibers absorb heavy exudate and are ideal for deep, heavily draining wounds; alginates form a gel on contact with wound fluid and require a secondary dressing. Foam dressings absorb moderate-to-heavy drainage while maintaining moisture balance and are commonly used over bony prominences. Wet-to-dry gauze, though still seen, is a form of mechanical debridement that is non-selective — it removes healthy and dead tissue alike and is largely being replaced by modern alternatives. Wound VAC (negative pressure wound therapy) applies sub-atmospheric pressure to promote granulation in large, complex wounds.