A wound dressing is a sterile compress acting as a barrier to protect injured epidermal tissues from the outside and promote the healing process. It's designed to be in direct contact with the wound.
Key Functions of Wound Dressings
Wound dressings play a crucial role in wound care. Here's a breakdown of their primary functions:
- Protection: Dressings shield the wound from external contaminants like bacteria, dirt, and other irritants that can cause infection or delay healing.
- Healing Promotion: Certain dressings are designed to maintain a moist wound environment, which is optimal for cell growth and tissue repair.
- Absorption: Dressings absorb excess exudate (fluid) from the wound, preventing maceration (skin softening due to prolonged exposure to moisture) of the surrounding skin.
- Support: Some dressings provide physical support to the wound, reducing pain and promoting comfort.
- Hemostasis: Certain dressings help to control bleeding by applying pressure to the wound site or containing substances that promote blood clotting.
Dressing vs. Bandage
It's important to distinguish between a wound dressing and a bandage:
| Feature | Wound Dressing | Bandage |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | Direct contact with the wound for protection/healing | Holds the dressing in place; provides support. |
| Sterility | Sterile | Not always sterile |
| Contact | Direct | Indirect (over the dressing) |
Essentially, the dressing is the active component that directly aids healing, while the bandage is typically used to secure the dressing and provide additional support or protection.
