Don’t Let Wounds Fester
Why is wound dressing important?
Healing is a natural process that involves the regeneration, resurfacing and restoration of injured skin. Proper wound dressing keeps you protected from infections, keeps scarring to a minimum, and shortens the healing process. Modern dressings have come a long way from just a bit of gauze or cotton with some adhesive tape. For example, colloidal dressings or silver-lined dressings are now integral parts of wound management, used to heal otherwise poorly healing chronic wounds.
Preventing infections. When you pay attention to your wound, changing the dressing regularly and keeping it clean and disinfected, the risk of infections is reduced to a large extent. While a minor infection might only cause slight discomfort, severe infections can lead to nausea, vomiting, pain, fever, and more. Severe complications like cellulitis, where the deeper layers and tissues in the skin are also infected, could also occur. A medically-trained professional, like a doctor or nurse, will be able to determine how often the dressing or bandage has to be changed after evaluating the wound.
Minimise scarring. Have you ever had a small cut and simply ignored it, thinking it will heal and disappear, only to realise that the area of skin where you were cut has now turned a dark colour that will not go away? The best way to ensure something like that does not happen is by keeping the wound soft and pliable with antibiotic creams or other treatment methods recommended by your doctor or nurse. This way, hard scabs will not form and result in skin discolouration or other types of scars.
Shortened healing process. Some might have heard the myth that wounds heal faster when uncovered and left to dry. However, this is completely untrue. In fact, most wounds heal faster when they are kept covered with the most appropriate dressing. A general rule of thumb in wound management is to keep a dry wound moist, and a wet wound dry. Besides, keeping the wound covered properly also has the added benefit of protection against infections, which would slow down healing.
Who requires wound dressing?
Anyone with any type of wound will require wound dressing. We are usually able to take care of small wounds like minor cuts and scratches at home, but more complicated wounds will require professional medical assistance. Some examples include those who are bedbound and unable to change positions often, resulting in compression wounds and bedsores, or diabetics whose condition is not well-controlled, resulting in diabetic ulcers in the feet or legs.
How often does the dressing have to be changed?
The frequency of dressing changes ranges from once a day to once a week. This largely depends on the type of wound you have and your underlying medical condition. For example, if you are in poor health or have a weak immunity system, your dressing may have to be changed daily to prevent infections. Wound dressing changes usually only take 15 to 30 minutes to complete. On the other hand, some post-surgery wounds will only need to be changed once a week to give your body tissue and skin time to regenerate on its own, as long as the dressing was done professionally to prevent the possibility of infection.
Speedoc offers same-day nurse home visits for wound dressing and changes
We have been providing home nursing services in Singapore since January 2019. A doctor and nurse will arrive at your home, where the doctor first assesses your wounds and prescribe the most appropriate management plan. Our nurses will then proceed with your wound dressing. Our nurses are always fully equipped with all the necessary tools to perform wound dressing changes for you, all from the comfort and convenience of your home.
Aside from nursing services, we also offer house call doctor, private ambulance booking services, telemedicine, and more. Download our app or call us to make an appointment today!
