Alginate Dressings - Calcium & Silver Alginate Wound Dressings

Calcium alginate itself does not have collagen, but very often, calcium alginate products can be made with collagen added to them. Collagen dressings are typically sheets, pads, or gels derived from bovine or porcine collagen. The fibers of collagen dressings encourage collagen regrowth around the wound and stimulate healing. Collagen production is a natural process that helps repair damaged skin and promotes healing.

Maxorb is a calcium alginate brand name. It is a highly absorbent silver alginate dressing that offers significant microbial protection, keeping wounds from infection. Maxorb can also reduce odor from the wounds and its gelling and fluid handling make it a healing promoter. It creates a moist environment for the wound the heal without the risk of infection. This brand-name product is one of many choices of calcium alginate products on the market, designed to heal and repair wounds and ulcers leaking fluids like blood and puss during the healing process.

A calcium alginate dressing is a dressing that can absorb fluid oozing out of the wound and keep it from re-entering and infecting the wound. Calcium alginate dressings actually keep the area moist but the wound itself dry. This allows for optimal healing. Calcium alginate dressings also minimize the risk of bacterial infections of a wound. They are ideal for chronic or recurring wounds like pressure ulcers or diabetic ulcers. They can minimize the pain, reduce infection risk, and help absorb exudate leaking from the wound.

To apply an alginate dressing, follow a few simple steps. Start by using a saline solution or wound cleanser to clean up the area. Pat the wound dry with sterile gauze to prevent introducing bacteria into the wound. Next, place the alginate dressing directly over the wound. If the wound is oozing a lot of fluid, you may need to secure another dressing over the calcium alginate dressing to absorb excess fluid and keep the bandage securely in place.

A silver alginate wound dressing is a highly absorbent, antimicrobial pad that is placed on wounds. It can collect excess fluids leaking out of a wound and can also help keep the wound from getting infected. It is best intended for moderate to highly exuding wounds. If there is very little fluid, you do not need a silver alginate dressing. If there is a lot of fluid leaking from a large or deep cut, a silver alginate dressing can help absorb exudate, speed healing, and prevent infection.

An alginate dressing is best used for pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, cavity wounds, venous leg ulcers, post-operative wounds, trauma wounds, and partial thickness burns. Alginate dressings can absorb lots of excess fluids like blood and puss that may be excreted by the wound or injury. The goal is to keep leaking fluids from re-entering the wound and causing an infection or otherwise slowing down the healing process. If you have had surgery and an operative wound is leaking, you may want to try using a calcium alginate dressing to absorb the excess fluids and help speed healing.

A calcium alginate dressing contains silver alginate, so yes, they are the same thing. Calcium alginate dressings contain an ionic silver complex – silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate. Silver ions are released when they are touched by wound exudate. In other wounds, the leaking fluids stimulate the silver ions to release and aid in healing and preventing infection. Silver ions have natural antimicrobial properties and can prevent serious complications from chronic ulcers or other wounds.