Non-Adherent Dressings, Pads, and Bandages

Non-adherent wound dressing is a primary dressing with low adhesive and highly absorbent properties. Its no-stick design enables pain-free removal, uninterrupted wound healing, and wound drainage. While a wound is healing, the non-adherent dressing protects damaged tissue by giving it space to heal in a sterile environment. At the same time, the poly film rests on the wound surface and allows fluids to pass through the contact layer and into the cotton gauze padding.

After reading any special instructions on the non-adherent pad packaging, you can start the wound dressing process by selecting a non-adherent pad size that completely covers the wound. Then, thoroughly wash your hands before using a gauze pad to clean the wound with soap and water. It is critical to patient safety that you maintain a sterile environment around the treatment area, including cotton balls, gloves, scissors, and other instruments involved in the procedure. Also, make sure that the skin area around the wound is dry before carefully covering the injury with the non-adherent dressing.

Once you are situated, place the non-adherent pad directly on the wound, making sure the edges and corners slightly exceed the borders of the wound by a quarter-inch or so. If the wound requires more than one piece of dressing, make sure the pads overlap. Then, put on a secondary dressing to increase absorption. Your last step is to secure the pad with rolled gauze and surgical tape. Your doctor will give you instructions on the number of times you need to change the dressing between visits.

Non-adherent dressings come in a variety of sizes. For example, the Adaptic brand offer sizes from 3" x3", 5" x 9", 3" x 8", and 3" x16". Telfa non-adherent dressings come in 2"x3", 3" x4", 3"x8", and 8"x10". Also, 3M Tegaderm offer non-adherent dressing in 3 ½ "x4", 3 ½ "x 6", 3 ½ "x 10", and 3 ½" x 13 ¾ ". In addition, you can cut the non-adherent dressing to fit any wound size without causing unraveling or shredding.

Since non-adherent dressing and pads make direct contact with an open wound, they must be sterile to avoid infection or contamination of the healing area. The dressing also reduces the risk of infection by not leaving residue once you peel it off. Non-adherent pads come individually packaged in peel-open envelopes to avoid any cross-contamination. Also, some of these dressings contain an antiseptic to destroy infection-causing micro-organisms.

Non-adherent wound dressing has a gauze interior and a poly film contact layer. Many non-adherent dressings have an embedded petrolatum emulsion to maintain the wound's moisture and facilitate healing. In addition, some dressings contain hydrogel to curb pain and reduce bacterial growth, and other companies offer non-adherent dressing injected with the infection fighter Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB). Along with the petrolatum, the poly film helps prevent the dressing from sticking to the wound. Non-adherent dressings usually require a secondary dressing for added absorption along with bandages to bind it to the wound. Also, under medical supervision, non-adherent dressings are suitable for application in negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) to protect fragile wound tissues.

Since non-adherent dressings don't stick to a wound, it is most beneficial when a wound requires frequent dressing changes. They are also a top choice for exceptionally painful wound areas, wounds that weep excessively, and places where the epidermal layer needs extensive repair.

The most common use of non-adherent wound dressing is minor wound treatment. But they are very beneficial for a wide array of wounds, including ulcers, post-operative wounds, partial-thickness wounds, and scabbed wounds. In addition, they are helpful in traumatic wound management, 2nd-degree burns, skin tears, and fragile skin.