A Brief Guide To Collagen Wound Dressing

By Beryl Dalton


Wounds are not a comfortable thing to have especially if they are chronic or infected. A new and easier way to manage them is using collagen wound dressing as they help heal much faster. The antimicrobial sections in the dressing help limit and inhibit potential infections. They are still a new concept for many people but have been proven effective in healing of chronic and necrotic wounds from donor/skin grafts, surgery and other causes.

As its known, collagen dressings are enhancers for wound healing and are made animals such as horses and cattle. Usually, it works by creating a moist environment around the wound and as a result speed up the healing process.

To start with, collagen is a protein naturally found in humans. In the body it helps close up wounds and fasten the healing process. This is made because it is able to attract cells such as keratinocytes and fibroblasts to the broken site. The cells help in angiogenesis, epithelial cells, debridement and reepitheliziation. Also, its a substrate through which new tissues grow. Lastly, it is able to give tensile strength to the skin.

Dressings made from the biological material are available in variety of pore sizes and surface areas and may be in form of gels, pastes, powders or sheets that are placed on broken skin. These attributes enhances management aspects of the healing process. They are changed every seven days on average to remain effective. Since they last a while without the need to change, they are economical for the patient and maintain the environment for a while.

The material works in certain type of wounds. Its applied to full thick or partial ones, chronic non-healing, necrotic and those with minimal to heavy exudates. Such wounds may be emanating from graft sites, surgical processes or abrasions. Also, those caused by diabetes, pressure and venous ulcers are treated by type of dressing. Lastly, they also work well on first and second degree burns.

However, collagen does not fix all broken skins like third degree burns. The dressing also is contradicted for patients with active vasculities or those with known sensitivity to bovine, swine or avian materials. The material is also contraindicated for patients with sensitivity to the silver used in the antimicrobial patch. If under supervision of a health care professional, the dressings may be used for compression therapy.

The collagen contents can only be used on one patient at a time. It is also, for strictly external use only. When using, there should be minimal contact with the intact skin and edges of the broken skin. In addition, its illegal to buy from or on order from anyone apart from a physician.

Compared to other materials, collagen is superior since it is easy to apply. Moreover, it is natural and is known for not causing pain. Since it is natural, patients who are not sensitive tend to not get immunogenic reactions. Its already part of the natural healing process of the body, so it speeds the process even further especially when added artificially. Lastly, it is really effective in patients whose healing process has stalled; it jump starts and speeds up the process.




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