What are the Benifits and Limitations of Moist Wound Dressing?

Moist Healing or Dry healing?

Moist Healing

Advantage of moist healing 

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  It can maintain a hypoxic state in the microcirculation of the wound, which is conducive to the production of collagen fibers and epithelial cells, accelerates the formation of granulation tissue, and promotes wound healing;
  

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  It can better dissolve fibrin and necrotic tissue. For wounds, in order to heal, it is necessary to remove the necrotic tissue and dispose of the fibrin deposited in the necrotic tissue. In a relatively humid environment , its dissolution process is smoother;

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  Moist healing dressings can form a safe and airtight environment, have a good isolation effect on bacteria, avoid bacterial invasion, enhance white blood cell function, improve local immunity, and reduce the chance of infection.

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  The temperature and humidity of the environment where the wound is located are relatively suitable, which can make the wound heal faster;

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  It can accelerate cell proliferation and differentiation; it can reduce the appearance of scars and make patients feel more beautiful;

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  A wet environment is more conducive to temperature stability. Compared with fluctuating temperatures, constant temperature is more conducive to tissue growth;

Moreover, The moist environment has an inhibitory effect on the formation of scabs, which can prevent new granulations from adhering to the dressing, and will not cause damage to the wound when changing the dressing.

Moist healing also has its disadvantages, in that the cost of a single treatment is relatively high. Compared with dry healing, wet healing has certain requirements for the dressings and techniques required. It is usually difficult to achieve at home and generally requires going to the hospital for wound treatment.

Types of dressings used in wet healing

Common ones include alginate dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, polyurethane foam dressings, hydrogel dressings, etc. 

Alginate dressings by Haiwei manufacturer are made of alginic acid fiber from the sea as the main raw material, and can absorb exudate 20 times its own volume. The Ca2+ exchange between the colloid and the wound surface can quickly stop bleeding, and the adsorption of platelets promotes the formation of blood clots. 

Hydrocolloid dressing is composed of hydrophilic particles and hydrophobic polymers. It can absorb a moderate amount of wound exudate and form a moist wound healing environment without tearing new granulation tissue. It promotes the synthesis of collagen in epithelial cells and accelerates microvascular proliferation. , to prevent bacterial invasion.

Silicone foam wound dressing consists of polyurethane (PU) film with pressure-sensitive adhesive, high absorbent polyurethane foam, silicone gel and isolation film. It can effectively inhibit bacteria, absorb wound exudate, facilitate wound healing, and play a positive role in the recovery of pressure injuries (pressure ulcers) and various wounds with a lot of exudate. 

Hydrogel dressing is a water-active gel ointment that is used to dry wounds, hydrate the wound, provide an ideal moist environment, promote the autolysis of necrotic tissue, accelerate wound healing, and also has the function of filling the wound.

Commonly used ointments for wet healing include MEBO, erythromycin ointment, chlortetracycline eye ointment, Baiduobang, compound polymyxin B, petroleum jelly, etc. These ointments can keep the wound in a relatively oily and moist state. The application can be used for exposed moist therapy, or it can be combined with dressing for closed moist healing.

Choose dry healing or wet healing for wound recovery?

Earlier we learned about dry healing and wet healing and introduced their respective advantages and disadvantages. I believe everyone has a certain understanding of these two healing methods. So if you accidentally have a wound in your daily life, which type of healing should you choose? What about the method?

Before we make a choice, we should consider these factors: wound severity, financial affordability, patient requirements for wound healing, etc. For some common small wounds, such as a finger accidentally scratched by a knife, and the wound is shallow and minor, dry healing can be used, rinse with normal saline, disinfect and then bandage. If the wound is serious, large and deep, it is recommended to use moist healing dressing, using some airtight dressings and medicinal solutions to speed up the healing of the wound and reduce pain during the recovery period.