Hydrogel Dressing / Hydrogel Wound Dressing

Types of Hydrogel Dressings for Wounds

There are three types of hydrogel dressings for wound healing: amorphous, impregnated, and sheet hydrogel. We’re focusing on hydrogel sheet dressings here, but you can learn more about other types of hydrogel dressings immediately below. This way, you can see if either of those are more applicable for your situation. 

Amorphous Hydrogel Dressing

This type of hydrogel comes in tubes, packets or spray bottles. They’re thick yet free-flowing, able to fill punctures and other deep wounds which are hard to reach. Amorphous hydrogel requires a secondary dressing. 

Impregnated Hydrogel Dressing

An impregnated hydrogel dressing is gauze or sponge that is saturated or impregnated with hydrogel. If the wound is very deep, these dressings can be packed into it. These dressings also require secondary dressings. 

Hydrogel Sheet Dressing

The gel in hydrogel pads for wounds, which is in a thin mesh, overlaps between the wound and the skin. Hydrogel sheets are especially ideal for anyone with sensitive skin. 

Benefits of Hydrogel Sheet Dressings

Hydrogel Sheet dressings have many benefits in wound healing, and are therefore a very popular choice of dressings among healthcare professionals and laymen alike. Here are just a few of the benefits hydrogel pads for wounds have to offer. 

• Promotes autolytic debridement
• Light to moderate absorbency
• Cools down the wound
• Very little to no trauma during dressing changes
• Soothes and relieves pain for up to six hours
• Rehydrates devitalized tissue
• Keeps wound moist to prevent infection
• Doesn’t allow bacteria and oxygen to reach the wound
• Promotes granulation
• Promotes epithelialization
• Packs dead space (amorphous/impregnated only)

When to Use Hydrogel Dressings

Hydrogel dressings are excellent for burn bandages. You can also use hydrogel for pressure ulcers, blisters, and more. They are optimal for many different situations. Here are the times you’ll want to choose hydrogel dressings. 

• Ulcers (diabetic/pressure/venous/arterial)
• Partial thickness/superficial/first/second degree burn
• Low/moderate exudate wounds
• Blisters
• partial/full thickness wounds
• Donor sites
• surgical/postoperative wounds
• Skin tears
• Skin grafts

Contraindications

In the aforementioned situations, hydrogel bandages are often ideal. However, in the following situations, hydrogel dressings should not be used. 

• High level exudate
• Wounds with high water content: These gel dressings for wounds are not completely
• absorbent, so they shouldn’t be used for wounds with a lot of exudate

How to Apply Hydrogel Sheet Dressings

1. Wash your hands.
2. Don gloves.
3. Clean the wound with saline.
4. Remove dressing from the package and use sterile scissors to cut dressing to size.
5. Put the dressing over the entire wound.
6. Use a secondary dressing to keep it in place.
7. Change the dressing as often as your doctor or nurse advises (which may be daily).

If you are changing the dressing, after step 2, carefully remove the bandage, observe the date on it, and then start again from step 1.

A hydrogel wound dressing contains gel, and is great for many types of wounds. Find sterile hydrogel dressings from top brands on AvaCare Medical now! Choose from a full selection of hydrogel sheets, hydrogel foam dressings, hydrogel colloidal dressings, burn pads and more. If you have any questions regarding hydrogel sheets for wound healing, or any other items, contact our customer care team today.