Types of Wound Dressings
From medicated dressings to PICO negative pressure dressings and wounds of all different kinds, choosing the proper dressing for the purpose is the vital first step in appropriate wound management.
In this guide, we cover wound dressing uses and proper wound dressing selection.
Understanding Debridement
Before exploring the different types of wound dressings, it's important to understand key terms related to wound care, such as debridement and autolytic debridement. These processes play a crucial role in wound healing and influence the choice of dressing.
Debridement
Debridement is the process of removing dead, damaged, or infected tissue from a wound to promote healing and reduce the risk of infection.
Autolytic Debridement
Autolytic debridement is a natural process where the body's own enzymes and moisture are used to soften and break down dead tissue, making it easier to remove without causing harm to healthy tissue.
Click a link to jump to that section.
- Open Wounds
- Fingers, Thumbs, and Toes
- Limbs, Joints and The Scalp
- Pressure Wounds, Ulcers, and Bed Sores
- C Sections
- Abdominal Surgical Wounds
- Septic and Infected Wounds
- Stitches and Post-Op Wounds
- Stabs, Punctures, and Deep Wounds
- Bites
- Macerated Wounds
- Chronic Wounds
- Using Gauze
- Pico Wound Dressing
- Wound Packing
- Low Exudate Wounds
- Breast Wound Dressing
- Granulating Wounds
- Abscesses
- Burns
- Skin Tears and Abrasions
- Wet-to-Dry Dressings
- Swimming and Showering with a Dressing
- Cellulitis
- Moist Wound Dressings
- Heavy Exudate
- Medicated Dressings
Open Wounds
Wash the wound, apply firm pressure, and elevate the wound above heart level if possible to stop the bleeding.
Wounds that do not close by themselves may need to be stitched or sutured with wound closures or medical glue. It may be determined that a wound should close by secondary intention, in which case it may need to be packed with sterile gauze to prevent infection.
When applying a dressing to an open wound, wet-to-dry dressings used to be used on open wounds to remove dead tissue by process of mechanical debridement, but these are no longer favoured because of the discomfort when removing the dressing and the risk of infection. Maintaining a moist environment can make dressing changes more comfortable.
Open wound dressing procedures should reduce the risk of infection as the body works to close the wound. Using a medicated dressing is a good way to minimise the chance of infection at the wound bed. A hydrocolloid or hydrogel dressing provides a humid environment and encourages autolytic debridement (a natural process whereby the body’s enzymes break down damaged tissue) by drawing exudate out of the wound bed.
When explaining how to dress an open wound at home for a patient, show them how to change their dressings and explain importance of hygiene procedures. Hands and dressing environments should be clean and free from dirt and germs. Painkillers containing aspirin can prolong bleeding and should be avoided for pain relief.
Protect your business
Bridge the Care Gap with Public Access Trauma Kits
Steroplast, CityCo, and Manchester City Council have distributed 180+ PAcT Kits across Manchester to bridge the critical care gap. In emergencies, these kits provide essential supplies to manage severe bleeding until paramedics arrive. Learn how to equip your venue and ensure you're prepared.
Fingers, Thumbs, and Toes
How to dress fingertip wounds:
Debride the wound with wound wash, an alcohol-free wipe, or running water. Deep cuts or cuts that do not close may require stitches or wound closure strips.
A dressing for finger wound or thumb wound dressing can be made with a piece of gauze, or a non-adherent dressing pad cut into a T shape which can be wrapped around the finger. Secure the dressing using a tubular gauze bandage and a tubular bandage applicator to apply the bandage evenly over the finger.
Hold the bandage in place with a piece of dressing retention tape or create a strap by cutting some of the remaining bandage in half and tying it under the thumb joint and around the wrist like in this video.
The process for how to dress a toe wound is the same as for a finger.
If you’ve severed a finger, toe, or part of a digit, wrap it in moist clean cloth or gauze, put it in a sealed plastic bag, and pack it with ice if possible. It's important to ensure the digit is not in direct contact with the ice. If the digit is well-wrapped in gauze or cloth this should be sufficient protection. Take the digit with you to the hospital to be reattached.
Limbs, Joints, and the Scalp
When treating wounds on limbs, such as leg wound dressing, and joints, such as knees and elbows, start with debridement to ensure the wound bed is clean and free from debris and dirt.
Depending on the type of wound, you may be able to use an adhesive dressing, in which case there’s no need to cover the dressing with a bandage or dressing tape to secure it in place. When approaching how to dress an armpit wound or how to dress a knee wound, a water-resistant adhesive dressing is a good option as these are highly flexible and stand up to the regular movement of the joint area.
For how to dress a foot wound, or a wound on a leg or arm, use a roller bandage such as a crepe bandage or conforming bandage to wrap over a dressing and hold it in place.
A non-adhesive dressing can be used to cover a wound on the scalp, or alternatively, an adhesive dressing if the area of the scalp is shaved and the dressing adhesive can make good contact with the skin.
Pressure Wounds, Ulcers, and Bed Sores
An ulcer or sore should be treated as an open wound. Wound dressing for bed sores and ulcers should minimise the risk of infection. Sometimes an ulcer can be cleaned and the edges brought together, or a skin graft can be used to cover the area. If the wound is being left to heal on its own, it’s essential to use a dressing with a moist wound pad or a medicated dressing to discourage the growth of bacteria and potential infection
Hydrocolloid dressings provide a gentle, moist environment that draws exudate out of the wound, helping the body's normal healing process. Other dressing options include antibiotic, alginate, and impregnated foam dressings. Gauze dressings should not be used to treat these types of wounds.
Pressure ulcer wound dressing can be paired with barrier creams to protect ulcer areas from incontinence. Antiseptic creams may also be prescribed as well as antibiotics.
C Sections
How to dress c-section wound:
Wound dressing for c-section occurs in theatre directly after birth. The wound may be closed with stitches or surgical glue. The wound should be covered with an adhesive dressing, preferably washproof, so the patient can wash when they are able to. Following surgery, while the patient is still in hospital, the wound should be checked regularly, cleaned if soiled, and re-dressed.
Use a waterproof adhesive dressing or a standard adhesive dressing. You could also cover the wound with a dressing strip. A c-section wound is usually 10–15cm long, so the dressing will need to accommodate this.
Abdominal Surgical Wounds
Reviews have found that abdominal surgical wound dressing isn’t always necessary or conducive to healing. Dressings following enteral stomas can easily become soiled and require more time to change and re-dress the area.
Washproof occlusive dressings allow the patient to shower. Otherwise, conventional gauze can be used.
Please make sure to follow your doctor's recommendations.
Septic and Infected Wounds
How to dress an infected wound:
There’s always a risk of a wound becoming infected. Proper hygiene protocols and, especially, educating patients on how to keep wounds clean and dress them hygienically are the best ways to ensure they don’t become infected while healing.
Signs of an infected wound are:
- The area looks swollen.
- The wound is not healing.
- There is discharge, like pus, coming from the wound.
- The area around the wound is red, hard, and/or hot.
- There is an unpleasant smell coming from the wound.
If you suspect a wound to be infected, please seek professional medical attention.
There are also more serious symptoms that require immediate medical attention, such as:
- Achiness
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Fever and chills
- Vomiting and nausea
Choose a medicated dressing for infected wounds to reduce bacteria at the site of the infection on the skin. Medicated dressings include hydrocolloids and hydrogels, medical honey, silver, and iodine dressings.
The wound should be checked frequently, cleaned, and redressed. Debridement should remove dead tissue containing bacteria. Some dressings like hydrocolloid and hydrogel dressings stimulate the body’s autolytic debridement process by creating a moist environment for cell renewal.
You may need to pair septic wound dressing with a course of antibiotics.
Stitches and Post-Op Wounds
Wound dressing after surgery isn’t always necessary; some can heal faster without one. The necessity of a dressing depends on whether there is exudate, whether the area needs to be protected from external elements, whether there are stitches that could catch on something or get wet, and whether the dressing would provide a better healing environment than the open air.
How to dress a wound after surgery:
Some post-op wounds require wound packing, and alginates are known to be good haemostatic agents (agents that encourage blood clotting). Gauze soaked in saline is also used in wound packing.
When dressing operation wounds that are closed, it’s important to keep the area dry. A film polyurethane dressing or adhesive dressing can be used to isolate the wound and protect it from the elements. These dressings easily conform to the body and stay in place throughout body motion.
A surgical wound dressing change can be done up to two days after the initial dressing or may be done earlier, depending on the state of the wound. If the dressing becomes soiled, it should be changed immediately.
How to dress a wound with stitches:
The main aim of stitch wound dressing is to keep stitches dry and protect them from catching on something. Use a water-resistant dressing to protect stitches.
Please make sure you follow your doctor's recommendations after a surgery
Stabs, Punctures, and Deep Wounds
How to dress a deep wound:
Deep wounds will be dressed differently depending on whether they are closed or not. A deep wound may be stitched or held together with wound closures. Once closed, the wound should be kept dry, so a washproof dressing should be used if possible. A washproof adhesive dressing will isolate the wound from any water splashes.
If a deep wound is being left to heal by secondary intention, it may require wound packing with gauze. Either way, a deep wound dressing should be moist to provide an optimal environment for new cell growth and minimise patient distress when changing dressings.
How to dress a puncture wound:
Puncture or stab wound dressing should start with thorough wound cleaning. You should inspect the wound for particulate and ensure there is nothing embedded in the wound. Use tweezers to clear the wound of debris, but only trained professionals should extract embedded objects. Antibiotic cream can be applied over the top of the wound if necessary.
Assess the severity of a deep wound or a puncture wound. If minor, you may only need to use an adhesive or non-adherent dressing pad. More severe wounds may require a thicker wound dressing to absorb exudate.
Ambulance dressings can be used to effectively stop heavy blood loss and are carried by emergency responders. These dressings come with a strap attached to them to wrap the injury quickly.
If you have a deep or puncture wound, please make sure you seek medical attention.
Bites
Bites can be small or more serious, depending on the animal. No matter where the bite came from (even human bites), medical attention is required to assess whether the patient is at risk of infection. A tetanus shot and rabies shot may be required. Do not close the wound, as this may trap bacteria in it.
Thorough debridement will ensure bacteria is washed out of the wound. Larger bites, such as a dog bite, may require a thick, non-adhesive wound dressing and a bandage to hold everything together.
Limited-time Offers
Save £105 on DefibSafe 3 Cabinets
Discounts on Industry-Leading Defibrillator Cabinets
Macerated Wounds
It's difficult to prevent skin maceration in wound management. Skin maceration occurs when the skin becomes overly soft and breaks down due to prolonged exposure to moisture. Any moist environment can cause skin maceration: sweat, exudate, and wound dressing materials themselves can contribute to the humid environment that causes skin maceration. Bed sores, burn injuries, and diabetic ulcers are all prone to maceration.
Creating a dressing for macerated wounds is all about keeping the area as dry and breathable as possible. Two types of dressings are used to treat skin maceration at the site of a wound: occlusive dressings and Hydrofiber dressings.
Occlusive dressings are non-absorbent and wax coated, meaning they totally isolate the wound area from moisture and bacteria. Hydrofiber dressings contain iodine which is evidenced to reduce skin maceration.
Chronic Wounds
In chronic wounds, keeping the area clean and debriding it of dead tissue should happen as often as needed to reduce inflammation and allow proliferation to occur. The best types of dressings for chronic wounds are:
- Gauze
- Films
- Foams
- Hydrogels and hydrocolloids
- Medicated dressings, including silver and alginate
Keep hygiene levels to an absolute maximum when working with chronic wound dressings. You should use the aseptic non-touch (ANNT) technique to change dressings. Read about the ANNT technique in our article A Complete Guide to Wound Dressing.
The wound should be examined between changes for signs of worsening. The patient should also be monitored for signs of more serious infection like fever and vomiting. A course of antibiotics may be required.
Using Gauze
Gauze is one of the most commonly used materials in wound management. Its excellent absorption capabilities and non-linting properties make it a great material for cleaning wounds and soaking up blood. Wound dressing with gauze can help with mechanical debridement (when used in wet-to-dry dressings) or, more commonly these days, soaked in petroleum jelly, medical honey, iodine, zinc, or another active ingredient to maintain a moist environment at the wound site.
Find out more in our article All About Gauze Swabs.
Visit our
Personal First Aid Online Guide
Find everything you need, from first aid kits, plasters & bandages to hot & cold therapy.
PICO Wound Dressing
What is a PICO wound dressing? PICO wound dressings provide negative pressure to a post-op surgical wound site. The airtight, waterproof dressing is placed over the wound and air is removed from it via suction.
Clinical evidence suggests that PICO dressings help to reduce the number of closed surgical incision site infections. A course of antibiotics may be required.
Wound Packing
In the case of a large, deep wound that needs to close by secondary intention, the cavity needs to be packed with a dressing to drain it of exudate, remove bacteria, and allow the wound bed to granulate, rather than simply close up over the top.
Cavity wound dressings have traditionally been made with gauze soaked in saline. Because it is cheap, readily available, and familiar to many surgeons, gauze is the most widely used dressing material for wound packing.
But studies on wound packing alternatives have shown that other dressing types can provide more manageable and more comfortable dressing changes because they do not adhere to the wound bed as gauze does. Some recommended gauze alternatives are hydrocolloids, hydrogels, and alginates. Foam dressings are also low-adherent and cost-effective for packing dressing wounds.
How to dress a deep open wound with wound packing:
- Make sure you are wearing gloves. Inspect the wound for signs of infection, and ensure it is clean once you have removed the current wound packing. A cotton-tipped applicator soaked in sterile wound wash is a good tool for cleaning tiny areas.
- Cut a section of the chosen dressing and soak them in a bowl of sterile saline.
- Take out the section of the dressing material and lightly squeeze out the excess saline.
- Pack the wound carefully, using fingers or a cotton-tipped applicator to push the material into crevices gently.
- Once the packing dressing open wound is filled, cover it with another dressing. A foam dressing can be used.
- Tape the dressing to the skin around the wound using dressing retention tape.
Low Exudate Wounds
Low exudate wounds can be covered with a hydrocolloid dressing or other types of occlusive dressing that maintain a moist environment over the wound.
On the other hand, a low exudate wound dressing might be intended to keep the wound completely dry and in instances with post-operative closed incision wounds. In this case, a thin, adhesive dressing or a film polyurethane dressing can be used.
Breast Wound Dressing
Following surgery for breast cancer, there will be a closed surgical incision wound, and there may also be a wound in the armpit if lymph glands are removed. A washproof adhesive dressing can be used as a breast wound dressing. The wound may be closed with dissolving stitches or wound closure strips. The dressing can stay in place for around one week or ten days following surgery.
Please make sure you follow your doctor's recommendations after a surgery
Granulating Wounds
In granulating wound dressing, the wound bed must be kept moist, warm, and drained of exudate. Depending on the wound's size and shape, you will choose a different dressing.
Minor wounds that are small and shallow are well-suited to hydrocolloid dressings or other occlusive dressings. Wounds with heavy exudate can be dressed with alginate dressings. Deep granulating wounds will usually need to be packed, and this can be done with either gauze or foam dressing. Sometimes a bag containing foam chips can be used.
Abscesses
How to dress an abscess wound:
Following surgery to drain an abscess, the area should be thoroughly irrigated or cleaned with saline solution. The wound will be left open to drain any more exudate produced. Depending on the size of the area, the abscess may only need a dressing to cover it. When dressing abscess wounds choose a dressing appropriate for the level of exudate.
If the abscess is particularly deep, the wound will need to be packed to keep it open while the abscess heals. Gauze or foam can be used to do this.
Burns
How do you dress a burn wound?
Burns can leave blisters and open wounds on the skin, making it susceptible to infection. It’s essential to keep burn wounds clean and drain off exudate. In the first 24 hours of a burn injury or if you’re the first person to treat it, use a special hydrogel burn dressing to cool the wound and keep it moist.
How to dress an open burn wound while it heals:
The burn wound should be treated as sterile, and the ANNT technique should be used to change dressings and clean the wound. Minor blisters should be left intact, but if there are larger ones, they may need to be de-roofed and dead tissue debrided. De-roofing blisters should be done on a case-by-case basis as exposing tissues underneath can present a risk of infection and prolong healing. This should only be done by a medical professional.
In terms of dressings, gauze soaked in an oil-based substance like petroleum jelly can be used to maintain a moist environment for the wound, with an absorbent wound dressing over the top to soak up any exudate and held in place with a crepe bandage.
Alternatively, a hydrocolloid or hydrogel dressing can maintain a moist environment over the wound and absorb exudate.
The wound should be reassessed after the first 48 hours, and depending on the state of the wound, the dressing can be changed every three to five days.
Learn about how to give first aid and care for burns in our blog.
Skin Tears and Abrasions
How to dress a skin tear wound or abrasion:
Skin tear and abrasion wound dressing should aim to keep the wound clean and help the patient feel more comfortable. These types of wounds can be painful because they expose many of the skin’s nerve endings.
Applying a topical treatment may be necessary to reduce the chance of infection. Covering the wound with a moist dressing will help the healing process and ensure dressing changes are minimally distressing. Third degree abrasions may require debridement to get rid of dead tissue.
Wet-to-Dry Dressings
A wet-to-dry wound dressing is used to facilitate mechanical debridement of a wound. A piece of soaked gauze is placed over the wound and can be covered with a secondary absorbent dressing to soak up exudate. Once the gauze has dried out, it can be removed from the wound, pulling dead tissue with it. Packed wounds may also use wet-to-dry dressings.
In recent times, wet-to-dry dressings for wounds have been used less often because of the pain associated with removing them, the risk of infection when re-opening the wound, and the prolonged healing time. In place of wet-to-dry dressings, occlusive dressings are favoured as they maintain a moist environment and make dressing changes more comfortable.
Swimming and Showering with a Dressing
Patients need to know how to keep wound dressings dry in showers to protect the wound and prolong the life of the dressing. Getting a wound wet can increase the risk of infection, encourage skin maceration, and damage stitches.
The task of how to shower with a wound dressing is made easy with a washproof dressing. An adhesive washproof dressing creates a seal against the skin around the wound pad, completely isolating the wound from moisture. This is also an ideal wound dressing for swimming.
Cellulitis
Once confirmed, cellulitis should be treated with a course of antibiotics. While cellulitis is fairly common, especially in patients with diabetes, it can become serious as it can cause tissue death, so cellulitic wounds should be monitored carefully. Dressing cellulitis wounds frequently will help to keep the area clean and notice any signs that the infection is not improving.
How to dress cellulitis wound:
Keep the wound clean and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly and a non-adherent dressing. In some cases, you may not need to dress the wound at all, but only if the wound can be kept clean.
Moist Wound Dressings
Maintaining a moist environment can be beneficial for the wound area. Film dressings, foam pads, hydrocolloids, hydrogels, and medicated dressings can come pre-moistened or be impregnated with the required ingredients.
An occlusive dressing is one that seals in a moist wound pad and prevents it from drying out. Occlusive dressings also help to keep the moisture where it needs to be and won’t cause it to spread out to healthy skin, which can cause skin maceration.
Heavy Exudate
Heavy exudate wounds should be carefully managed to reduce the risk of infection and skin maceration by removing the exudate and keeping the wound area as dry as needed. Choosing the right level of absorbency is critical to avoid complications further down the line because of excessive exudate.
A heavy exudate wound dressing should not be occlusive and should have a thick wound pad to soak up fluids without too frequent dressing changes. An absorbent wound dressing, or a gauze sheet with absorbent pads behind it are good options for weeping wound dressing.
In emergencies and in the case of heavy bleeding, an ambulance dressing can be used.
Medicated Dressings
In the instance of infection or the risk of infection, a medicated dressing might be used. While dressings like these don’t magically heal the body, they have active ingredients that promote the natural healing process and help fight against bacteria growth. The following are some commonly used medicated active dressings:
- Alginates
- Silver dressings
- Iodine dressings
- Medical honey
- Collagen dressings
Find out more about wound dressings, the equipment needed for dressing wounds, and troubleshooting wound dressings in our blog.
Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure
Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure
Choose the format that works for you: check out our Workplace First Aid Interactive Online Guide or download our Workplace First Aid Brochure as an easy-to-save PDF. Both include a self-assessment, product details, pricing, and comprehensive training and support.
Please enter your details into the form below along with any questions or comments and a member of our team will be happy to provide you with more information:
