Hydrocolloid Wound Dressings

hy·dro·col·loid: A substance that forms a gel with water.

Colloid (meaning and definition). (a.) Resembling glue or jelly; characterized by a jellylike appearance; gelatinous;
Reference: Medical Dictionary

Hydrocolloid dressings provide a beneficial moist wound healing environment and stimulate the physiological healing process of the wound. When fluids from the wound come into contact with the hydrocolloid dressing, it interacts and forms a gel that covers the wound and keeps the wound hydrated.

Hydrocolloid dressings are occlusive, adhesive, and absorbent. They come in sheets (see picture below), pastes, and powders and are suitable for light to moderate exudating wounds. Hydrocolloid dressings are also available with increased absorptive capacity

Here's more info on whether to keep wounds moist or dry.

Occlusive, adhesive hydrocolloid dressings provide several wound healing benefits. Apart from the beneficial moist wound healing environment these dressings form a protective barrier restraining environmental pollution from entering a wound.

They also diminish bacterial growth by lowering the pH of a wound. The wafer shaped formulation of the hydrocolloid material allows the bulk of the gel to be removed with the bandages, resulting in little or no damage to the newly formed tissue. All off the benefits:

• easy to use
• stimulate wound healing process
• captures wound malodors
• clean up wounds (by autolytic debridement)
• impenetrable by bacteria and other contaminants
• transparency allows non-invasive wound assessment
• are waterproof so they will stay adhesive while showering
• removal of dressing doesn't cause damage to the newly formed tissue and is only necessary after 3 to 5 days

"Hydrocolloids are easy to use, require changing only every 3-5 days, and do not cause trauma on removal. This makes them useful for clean, granulating, superficial wounds, with low to medium exudate.

Hydrocolloids provide effective occlusion; with dry wounds, they can have a softening effect, and they have been used to prevent the spread of MRSA (by providing a physical occlusive barrier)."

Source: Thomas, S., Hydrocolloids Journal of Wound Care 1992:1;2, 27-30

A study compared the effects of dry, moist, and wet wound healing environments on wound repair. Hydrocolloid dressings were used in this study to create the moist circumstances. Some of the results of this clinical trial:

Boosting tissue regrowth: "Wounds in wet, moist, and dry environments were completely epithelialized * on days 6, 7, and 8, respectively.

* = To become covered with epithelial tissue, as of a wound. epithelialize

Less dead skin cells and faster regrowth of new skin: "In comparison to dry wounds, the moist or the wet healing environment resulted in less necrosis and faster and better quality of healing in the formation of the newly regenerated epidermis."

Source: Dry, Moist, and Wet Skin Wound Repair

Hydrocolloid dressings are suitable to use on mild to moderate exuding wounds such as ulcers. Also acute and chronic wounds and other difficult healing wounds can benefit from these dressings.

They can also be used on dry wounds in which case they have shown to have a softening effect.

For heavy exuding wounds other dressings such as alginate dressings are recommended. This because oversaturation of the hydrocolloid dressing may lead to leakage of the gelatinous substance, causing maceration of the surrounding skin.

Hydrocolloid dressings should only be applied on sterile wounds. When wounds are not sterile a serious infection may form underneath the dressing. That's why it is recommended to consult a doctor for advice.

The dressing should always be administered on an area larger than the wound itself. Sometimes, depending on the location on the body, it can be useful to secure the edges of the dressing with tape.

A hydrocolloid dressing should be kept in place until it is saturated or be changed after 3 to 5 days. If it is necessary to replace it daily this indicates there's too much wound exudate for the particular hydrocolloid technology. There are differences between brands and also the way the dressings are applied influence the amount of drainage that can be absorbed. (Proper application may lead to more absorption.)

The risk on complications due to the use of hydrocolloid dressings is very low. However there are some aspects that should be taken into consideration.

• Occlusion may promote infection in high risk patients (anaerobic infection)
• In case the surrounding skin on the wound site is very fragile it may damage when the dressing is removed
• An unpleasant odor may exist upon removal.
• Also a residue may stay behind. This residue may wrongly seem to indicate an infection.
• oversaturation of the dressing (e.g. with heavy exuding wounds) may lead to skin maceration

"Great Great great Product. Really helped my daughters wounds to heal. Wonderful.

"Seems to be working well to heal stage two ulcer from old spider bite. Just wish the cover sheets were different colors or printed with words front back or top bottom or this side up and this side towards wound. (3M Tegaderm)

• Hydrocolloid wound dressings adhere best at body temperature. By placing your hand over the dressing after application you can ensure proper placement.


• Dressings with thick edges, as well as very thin dressings may 'roll up' and stick to clothing and bed sheets. On the other hand, too thick dressings may not be pliable enough which reduces the ability for proper application. It is commonly recommended to opt for medium thick dressings.


• Keep in mind that the skin surrounding the wound must be resistant enough to tolerate the sticky dressing being pulled off. When removed the skin shouldn't get damaged.

Brands are Tegasorb produced by 3M, Cutinova Hydro and Thin by Smith and Nephew, Nu-derm by Johnson & Johnson, Dermafilm by Dermarite, Duoderm and Signadress by ConvaTec, Comfeel by Coloplast, Hydrocol by Bertek and dressings manufactured by Replicare and Invacare.

The most popular brands are Tegaderm, Duoderm, and Medihoney.

You can't use hydrocolloid dressings when a wound is infected. This problem can be solved by using Medihoney wound dressings. These are, in contrary to most other wound dressings, suitable for infected wounds.

Medihoney dressings contain medical grade, sterile, doctor and FDA approved manuka honey. These dressings are also available in sheet and paste form. Results have been outstanding. There are several cases in which untreatable wounds turned out to heal after the use of these dressings. In one case a man was even spared of leg amputation.

Want to know more? Check out the many, very positive reviews on Amazon or read more here on Medihoney wound dressings

Both maintain a moist environment but hydrocolloid dressings have the capacity to absorb mild to medium exudate or drainage where hydrogel does not.

More on this on AllNurses.com

I know of one study in which the use of hydrocolloid dressings in order to improve scar appearance was examined. There was an expectancy of success since most scientists agree that the probable action of proven effective silicone gel is hydration.

The conclusion of the study was that scar itch, pain, and softness (pliability) did improve but its appearance (shape, size, color) did not.

Source: WorldWideWounds.com

Autolytic debridement is the process the body undertakes to remove dead tissue. Source: Wounds1.com