Adhesive Dressings- Island Dressings and Adhesive Wound Dressing

To remove an adhesive dressing without damaging the skin, be sure to moisten the bandage with warm water first. You can either submerge the dressing in warm water or place a warm, wet compress on it. Check to see if the edges of the bandage are easily lifting. If not, then you may want to try using an adhesive remover. This will deactivate the glue and allow you to carefully lift the bandage from the skin. Never pull quickly or force the bandage off. This can be very painful to the skin and can even damage it by breaking the outer layer of the skin. Instead, try a slow and steady approach to carefully dislodge the bandage.

An adhesive wound dressing is ideal for protecting wounds and scabs from friction, dirt, bacteria, and any other type of damage. By remaining securely in place, the wound can remain bacteria-free and heal quicker. Most of the healing will take place in the first few days. Keeping it covered will minimize the risk of infection. Ultimately, the primary purpose of an adhesive dressing is to protect the wound from outside contaminants.

An island dressing is the dressing applied to a post-operative wound or incision. It is an absorbent pad with an adhesive backing and absorbs bodily fluids and exudate that may ooze out of the wound. The soft-textured pad provides comfort to your incision, helps keep the area sterile, and prevents bacteria from entering the wound potentially causing infection. The thickness of the foam pad can also act as a barrier, protecting the wound from further injury.

The point of the island dressing is to keep the wound undisturbed as it heals. Ideally, it should not be changed more than once every 48 to 72 hours; however, current medical guidance recommends replacing a fully soiled island dressing to prevent bacteria from developing beneath the surface of the wounds.

Adhesive dressings are generally not waterproof. When necessary, wound dressing can be covered with a transparent waterproof adhesive film to protect it from getting wet unintentionally and lifting the edges from the skin prematurely.

Some people may be allergic to the adhesive used on wound dressings or bandages. In most cases, the allergic reaction will be limited to a skin reaction like contact dermatitis. When the use of adhesive wound dressings is unavoidable, a liquid skin protectant can be applied before placing the adhesive bandage on the skin to act as a barrier.

Please note: If you are allergic to other adhesives or latex products, always contact your physician before using adhesive wound dressings of any sort. Alternatively, use non-adhesive bandages secured in place with rolled gauze.