Monday 9 February 2015

All About Collagen Wound Dressing

By Beryl Dalton


Wounds are always trouble especially when they get infected. With collagen wound dressing, however, they heal much faster. In addition, the dressings come with antimicrobial agents which inhibit potential infections. Although, new to some patients, they show excellent results in healing necrotic wounds, second degree burns and skin grafts. So what exactly are they?

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.

For starters, collagen is a protein. Its found naturally in humans whose function is to help close up a wound and speed the recovery process. This happens because of its ability to attract fibroblasts and keratinocytes to the site of broken skin. Subsequently, it encourages debridement, re-growth of epithelial cells and angiogenesis. Lastly, it is a natural scaffold for growth of new tissues and responsible for giving the skin its tensile strength. Fibroblasts bring together the matrix to form stronger scar.

The biological material makes dressings available in varying surface areas and pore sizes. It also available in the form of gels, pastes, powders or sheets placed on broken skin. Such attributes enhances management aspects of the healing process. Every six to seven days, they may be changed to ensure that they remain effective. The length of time needed to change is long making it economical to the patient.

Collagen is used on only certain types of wounds. For example, those emanating from graft sites, abrasions or surgical processes. In addition, those caused by pressure, diabetic and venous ulcers are treated with this type of dressing. Therefore, it works best with partial or full thick wounds, necrotic, chronic non-healing and those with minimal to heavy exudates. First and second degree burns are also healed.

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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