Wound Care Basics
Use this chart and consult with your doctor to help you choose the right dressing for your specific wound type.
Wound Type | Product Type | Example Brands | ||||||||
Stage I Pressure Ulcer
| Transparent Film Has a thin, waterproof membrane. Allows gas and vapor to pass through while sealing the wound from contamination. Flexible and protects from friction and shearing. Indicated for superficial, clean wounds Thin Hydrocolloids
Hydrocolloid material combines with exudate to form a moist, gel-like substance. | Transparent Films 3M™ Tegaderm™ Thin Hydrocolloids Coloplast® Comfeel® | ||||||||
Stage II Pressure Ulcer
| Hydrocolloid Dressings (medium exudate) Hydrocolloid material combines with exudate to form a moist, gel-like substance. Foam Dressings Allow exudate to pass through the surface, where it is absorbed and held safely away from the wound. Help maintain a healthy, moist environment. Soft; can be used as secondary dressing for cushioning and protection. | Hydrocolloids 3M™ Tegaderm™ Foam Coloplast Biatain® | ||||||||
Stage III Pressure Ulcer
| Foam Dressings See above Alginate/CMC Dressings (medium/heavy exudate) Calcium in the dressing mixes with salts in the wound to form a gel that can absorb heavy exudate and stops the bleeding. Help maintain a healthy, moist environment. Remove easily. | Foam: See above CMC/Alginate ConvaTec AQUACEL® | ||||||||
Stage IV Pressure Ulcer
| Alginate/CMC Dressings (medium/heavy exudate) See above Amorphous Hydrogel Has a very high water content to help rehydrate dry wounds and provide a healthy, moist healing environment. Helps body naturally remove slough and dead tissue. Provides a cooling effect for burns. Can help reduce the risk of scarring. | CMC/Alginate See above Amorphous Hydrogel Amerx AmeriGel® Hydrogel Dressings | ||||||||
Infected Wounds
| Silver Dressings Silver is naturally toxic to bacteria, algae and fungi, which hinder wound healing. | Dressings for Infections 3M™ Tegaderm™ AG | ||||||||
Chronic Wounds
| The body produces a substance (MMPs) that helps wounds heal naturally. In chronic wounds, too many MMPs are created, and this disrupts the healing. Collagen attracts excess MMPs and allows normal healing to resume. | Collagen Dressings Covalon Technologies ColActive® | ||||||||
*Trademark of Smith & Nephew | ||||||||||
Specialty DressingsIn addition to the wide range of advanced wound care dressings above, Edgepark also carries many popular brands of products for diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers and more. Call a customer care specialist today at 1-888-394-5375 to learn what specialty foot dressings, bandage systems and unna boot products we have available. | ||||||||||