| Today's advanced skin wound care systems include | | | | carboxymethylcellulose and gelatin. This substance is |
| an array of amorphous hydrogel products. | | | | highly liquid-retentive and will absorb about four times |
| Treatment with amorphous hydrogel is gaining wide | | | | more exudate than gauze. Skin wound care dressings |
| acceptance in the medical community as an effective | | | | such as these can be worn considerably longer than |
| wound care treatment for exuding skin wounds. This | | | | gauze dressings. |
| type of wound care treatment creates an ideal healing | | | | |
| environment and can significantly speed healing of | | | | Wound care products like Convatec Aquacel have the |
| even persistent wounds. | | | | added advantage of containing ionic silver. Ionic silver |
| | | | | has powerful antimicrobial properties. The inclusion of |
| Amorphous hydrogel is a topical application for exuding | | | | it in the Convatec Aquacel wound care dressing does |
| (weeping/oozing) skin wounds. There are two major | | | | not affect the ability of the hydrocolloid to absorb |
| advantages to using an amorphous hydrogel for skin | | | | liquid. It also helps to kill bacteria and other microbes |
| wound care: | | | | that may come into contact with the wound area and |
| | | | | protect the wound, reducing the risk of infection. |
| 1) Ease of treatment of deeper or uneven wounds: | | | | |
| Lacerations and scrapes can be particularly difficult to | | | | Amorphous hydrogel can be used with many skin |
| treat. These wounds are often uneven: borders can | | | | wound care dressings. Combining it with a |
| be irregular, and the wound as a whole may be | | | | hydrocolloid dressing essentially creates two barriers |
| deeper and more jagged in some spots, shallower and | | | | of protection for a wound instead of just one, further |
| smoother in others. A topical dressing alone may not | | | | reducing the risk of contamination and/or infection. |
| sufficiently or evenly reach all portions of the wound. | | | | |
| Amorphous hydrogel is a gel solution that is applied | | | | Products such as DuoDerm extra thin do more than |
| directly to the wound. The gel has the ability to seep | | | | add that extra layer of protection. DuoDerm extra |
| down into all parts of the wound, including the deeper, | | | | thin is thinner than many other skin wound dressings. |
| rougher parts. This ensures even coverage of the | | | | This makes it ideal for use on areas of the body that |
| entire skin wound. | | | | are awkward to dress (i.e. the under-arm area, backs |
| | | | | of the knees) and may be subject to a great deal of |
| 2) Creating a moist environment: Moisture is particularly | | | | movement and flexing. |
| important for the proper healing of exuding wounds. | | | | |
| Amorphous hydrogel creates and maintains a moist | | | | When using any skin wound care dressing, make sure |
| environment that promotes healing. | | | | it's compatible with amorphous hydrogel. The product |
| | | | | label should clearly indicate its suitability for use with |
| Its effectiveness can further be enhanced when | | | | such a product. It's also important to apply the |
| combining amorphous hydrogel with a hydrocolloid | | | | amorphous hydrogel as indicated, and to strictly follow |
| dressing. Hydrocolloid dressings, such as DuoDerm | | | | the protocol for applying and removing it and the |
| extra thin, Convatec Aquacel and others contain | | | | dressing, as well as the proper schedule for changing |
| gel-forming agents, typically composed of sodium | | | | the dressings in order to maximize their abilities to heal. |