Wound healing products fall into one of two categories:
Low-Tech and High-Tech. Most people only ever need the low-tech
approach, not the expensive high-tech products used by wound care
professionals.
|
Basic
OTC (over the counter) wound healing products |
| * |
|
| Name: Mederma |
Average Cost: about $30 for a tube |
| Manuf & Website: Merz
www.mederma.com |
| Available: over the counter at
most pharmacies |
| Usage: Gel that helps
keep scars moist and soft. Use after the wound is healed. |
| User Comments: |
| Name: Adaptic Pads |
Average Cost: $6 box of 12 |
| Manuf &
Website: Johnson & Johnson |
| available:
over the counter at most drugstores |
| Usage: petroleum
saturated gauze, non-adhering dressing. Keeps the wound moist. |
| User Comments: |
| Name: Nu Gauze w/Iodoform |
Average Cost: $6.50 for 5 yards |
| Manuf & Website: Johnson
& Johnson |
| available: OTC at pharmacies
and medical supply stores, may need to special order |
| Usage: helps to control bleeding and prevent pooling of wound fluid.
Nu Gauze is also available without the Iodoform, which has an
anti-microbial property. |
| User Comments: You
evidently lay the strip near the incision, getting ready to insert it
toward the back of the wound and gently push it in with a Q tip. Don't
use force! Push it in till it's snug but not too snug... |
| Name: Medipore Soft
Cloth Tape |
Average Cost: $6.50 for 10 yard
roll |
| Manuf &
Website: 3M http://www9.3m.com/product/information/Medipore-H-Soft-Cloth-Surgical-Tape.html |
| available: OTC at
drug stores, pharmacies, discount stores |
| Usage: reportedly
offers excellent adhesion with reduced skin irritation |
| User Comments: |
| Name: 3M Micropore Paper
Tape |
Average Cost:$4.00
for 300" roll |
| Manuf & Web site:http://www9.3m.com/product/information/Micropore-Plus-Surgical-Tape.html |
| available: OTC at
drug stores, pharmacies, discount stores or by special order |
| Usage: Lightweight
paper tape, hypoallergenic and leaves little or no residue |
| User Comments: |
| Name: 3M
Microfoam Tape |
Average Cost:$4.50
for 5.5 yd roll |
| Manuf & Web site:3M
http://www9.3m.com/Product/information/Microfoam-Surgical-Tape-Sterile-Patch.html |
| available: OTC at
drug stores, pharmacies, discount stores or by special order |
| Usage: Elastic
foam tape products designed to stretch and conform while providing
secure adhesion. |
| User Comments: "it
feels nicer when pulling the outer bandage off..." |
| Name: Uni-solve Adhesive Remover* |
Average Cost:$8.00
for 8 oz bottle, also available in wipes. |
| *known as Zoff Adhesive remover in UK and
Australia. |
| Manuf & Web site: http://wound.smith-nephew.com/us/node.asp?NodeId=2488 |
| available: OTC at
drug stores and via web order |
| Usage: Removal of
tape residue |
| User Comments: "I
actually used these when I had my wound vac in place! They worked
wonders for rashes and stuff!" |
| Name: Cavilon Barrier Film |
Average Cost:$25.00
for box of 25 films |
| Manuf & Web site:
http://www.3m.com/product/information/Cavilon-No-Sting-Barrier-Film.html |
| available: prescription
only |
| Usage: Tape
residue barrier, protects skin from tape trauma |
| User Comments: "a
barrier cream you can apply to the skin where your dressing sticks to
stop itching and redness due to irritation from the adhesive. Smells
really nice and doesn't affect the stickiness of the dressing. Available
in 2g sachets, one would last me a week so good value for money!" |
| Name: Iodex
(Iodine in paste form) |
Average Cost: $13 for a 1 oz
jar |
| Manuf & Web site: Lee Pharmaceuticals 1444 Santa Anita Ave.so. El Monte, CA 91733.
800-950-5337 |
| available: special
order |
| Usage: anti-infective
salve. Helps draw out minor infection. |
| User Comments: Use it for real bad flare ups - unless the infection is beyond the drawing
out stage and you need it lanced. To use during the day just cover with a bandage
since it is black in color and will stain your clothes. It works best
overnight - apply liberally then cover and use a heating pad. Your
pharmacist probably won't stock it and will need to special order. |
| Name: Sitz Bath
(Futura) |
Average Cost: $12 |
| Manuf & Web site: |
| available: OTC at
drug and medical supply stores |
| Usage: Sitz
bath that can be placed on a toilet seat for soaking. |
| User Comments: "It
contains a plastic seat (looks like a enlarged bed pan) that is placed
over your toilet seat. It also has a tube that filters in, the tube goes
up to a plastic bag that looks like an IV bag. You can easily put it
together...I hung the bag on my shower curtain ring. You fill the
plastic bowl seat with warm water and the bag with hot water. There's a
small plastic clip that can control the water...when the water in the
seat gets too cool, you let hot water run through the tube into the seat
and the warm water spills out small holes in the back of the seat and
into the toilet. Meanwhile, you're sitting pressure free on the toilet
and taking your Sitz baths." |
| * |
|
| Name: Iodosorb |
Average Cost: $50 a tube |
| Manuf & Website:
Healthpoint
www.healthpoint.com |
| available: |
| Usage: Iodine based gel
wound cleanser that inhibits bacterial growth as it absorbs exudate |
| User Comments: |
| Name: Blairex Wound Wash Saline |
Average Cost: $5.50 for 7 oz bottle |
| Manuf & Website: Blairex
www.blairex.com/BLWoundWashSaline.html |
| available: OTC at drug stores
and pharmacies |
| Usage: sterile solution gently
washes out bacteria and debris |
| User Comments: "ive
been using Blairex's Wound Wash. its really nice for cleaning the inner
part of an open wound. not as messy as just the regular bottle of saline
you buy." |
| Name: Dermagran Wound Cleanser |
Average Cost: $2.50 for a 4 oz bottle |
| Manuf & Web site: Derma
Sciences www.dermasciences.com/cleanser.html |
| available: Also known as NutraCleanse.
Special order or order online |
| Usage: solution
containing Zinc and Vitamin B6 |
| User Comments: |
| Name: Savlon Wound Wash |
Average Cost: |
| Manuf & Web site:
Savlon www.savlon.co.uk/frames_feat_products.html |
| available: OTC at
drug stores, pharmacies, discount stores like Wal-Mart |
| Usage: Pump spray that
contains chlorhexidine gluconate, a powerful anti-infective. |
| User Comments: I am about a year post surgery after a muscle/skin flap procedure, I kept my wound clean by washing it with diluted
Savlon which contains Chlorhexidine gluconate and kills almost all bacteria in about 15 secs, I have really sensitive skin and I have had no skin reactions to it at all. |
| These
are the "big guns" of wound healing. They are expensive and
will probably be covered by insurance if your doc writes a prescription
(check first). Most people will not need these products, but they
may just be the ticket for those having problems healing (after
infection has been ruled out). The products that look the most promising
for our purposes here are the calcium alginate products and Scarlet Red.
A test showed them equally adept at speeding healing. |
| * |
|
| Name: Kaltostat Wound
Packing |
Average Cost: $50 for box of 10 |
| Manuf &
Website: ConvaTec www.convatec.com/en_GB/products/information/woundcare/woundCareRepository/kaltostat.html |
| Available: order
online from several sites or through pharmacy/medical supply store |
| Usage: Wound
dressing that consists of an absorbent calcium alginate fiber, derived
from natural seaweed. May be left in place for several days. |
| User Comments:
It's biodegradable and soaks up a lot of the moisture in
the wound to form a gel like substance which can be easily removed, even
washes out sometimes in a shower...it may be less uncomfortable than a
rough gauze. |
| Name: Aquacel |
Average Cost: $50 box of 5, rope or pads |
| Manuf & Website: ConvaTec
www.aquacelag.com/us/index.html |
| Available: order through
pharmacy or medical supply store |
| Usage: Antimicrobal wound
dressing, prevents wound infection. Available in rope or pads and won't
stick to wound. May be left in place for up to 7 days. |
| User Comments: its
basically some weird thing that absorbs fluid and turns into gel. Its
great. |
| Name: Scarlet Red Ointment
Dressing |
Average Cost: $42 Box of 12 |
| Manuf & Website: The
Kendall Company www.kendallhq.com/catalog/grouplisting.asp |
| Available: online at several
sites or order through pharmacy/medical supply store |
| Usage: wound dressing pads
infused with Scarlet Red Ointment. |
User Comments: helps
to prevent hypergranulated tissue. It seems to be helping
somewhat. The irritation is minimal and I believe my wound is actually
getting smaller.
**my research on the web really touts this stuff
as working great! The pad of this dressing is infused with Scarlet Red,
which is a red fat-soluble azo dye, used as a biological stain for fats;
it has some power to stimulate the proliferation of cells, and has been
used to enhance wound healing. |
| Name: Restore Calcicare |
Average Cost: $30 box of 5 |
| Manuf & Website: Hollister
www.hollister.com |
| Available: online at several
sites or order through pharmacy/medical supply store |
| Usage: highly absorbent
calcium alginate dressing, available in rope or pads. |
| User Comments: I
am now using a product called Restore calcicare, by Holister. It is made
of calcium sodium alginate, and it comes in a rope form (part #HO9940)
that lays easily into the wound bed. It's more comfortable, and you can
actually do it yourself! The dressing provides a moist interface and
keeps the wound open as it heals from the "bottom up". |
| Name: Mepore |
Average Cost: $20 box of 50 |
| Manuf & Website: Tendra
www.tendra.com/index.asp?id=926&lang=2 |
| Available: online at several
sites or order through pharmacy/medical supply store |
| Usage: self-adhesive absorbent
wound top pad for lightly exudating wounds. |
| User Comments: fibrous
and breathable which seemed to help dry the wound and keep t a bit
fresher |
| Name: Mepilex Transfer |
Average Cost: $58 box of 5 (cut into
smaller) |
| Manuf & Website: Tendra
www.tendra.com/index.asp?id=846&pid=558&lang=2 |
| available: online at several
sites or order through pharmacy/medical supply store |
| Usage: silicone dressing
pad. Transfers exudate away from the wound. |
| User Comments: Its
made of silicone so its really good on skin, its absorbent and when it
come to taking it off it doesn't make you cry as it doesn't pull your
hair as it is micro-adherent |
| Name: Panafil |
Average Cost: $83 tube |
| Manuf & Website:
Healthpoint
www.healthpoint.com |
| available: online at several
sites or order through pharmacy/medical supply store |
| Usage: Debriding,
deodorizing and healing ointment. The product literature specifically recommends
it for Pilonidal Cyst wounds. |
| User Comments: |
| Name: Santyl Topical Collagenase |
Average Cost: $60 tube |
| Manuf & Website: BTC www.biospecifics.com/insert.html |
| available: prescription |
| Usage: this
ointment helps to remove dead tissue and promote healing. It is
currently being used a great deal on burns and is probably suited best
for those with shallow wounds that are having trouble in the end stages
of healing. |
| User Comments: |
| Name: Cavi-Care Foam Dressing |
Average Cost: |
| Manuf & Website: Smith
& Nephew
Smith & Nephew - Cavi-Care* |
| available: doctor or nurse
application |
| Usage: a dressing designed
for cavity wounds with exudate. Stays in place for several days in
between changes. |
| User Comments: |
| Name: Hydrofera Blue |
Average Cost: $90 box of 10 |
| Manuf & Web site: Hydrofera
www.hydrofera.com/woundcare.html |
| available: online from at least
one site |
| Usage: moist pad made of
polyvinyl alcohol sponge. Protects against bacteria and can stay in
place up to 3 days |
| User Comments: |
| Name: Dermagran Zinc Saline
Dressing |
Average Cost: $2.50 4 oz bottle |
| Manuf & Web site: Derma
Sciences www.dermasciences.com/cleanser.html |
| available: online at a few
sites |
| Usage: moist wound pad
containing Zinc and Vitamin B6. |
| User Comments: |
| Name:PolyMem |
Average Cost:$65 box of 15 |
| Manuf & Web site: Ferris www.ferriscares.com/polymem.cfm |
| available: online and special
order |
| Usage: "Dressing that
contains the following wound healing agents: a wound cleanser, a mild
bacteriostatic, a moisturizer and an absorbing agent. Feels like
foam." |
| User Comments:"The best bandages I have tried is something called PolyMem wich is very easy to use and friendly to wear. Then use Mefix tabe to fix it and change it every day or two." |
| Name: Accuzyme
Ointment/Spray |
Average Cost:$62 for 30gm tube |
| Manuf & Web site:
http://www.healthpoint.com/divisions/tm/prodAccuzyme.cfm |
| available:
prescription, web order |
| Usage: Debrides
wound bed of dead tissue and speeds healing. |
| User Comments: |
This page last updated:
03/25/2007
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