News & Information

In home first-aid kits or hospital care scenarios, self-adhesive dressings are frequent "regulars". Whether for daily scrapes, protection of needle holes after intravenous infusion, or care of small post-surgical wounds, they can safeguard wound healing with their convenient design and reliable protective ability. Many people think they are just "gauze with glue", but in fact, their design and usage contain a lot of knowledge that promotes wound recovery.

The core advantage of self-adhesive dressings lies in the "combination of convenience and protection". They do not require additional tape for fixation; the built-in medical pressure-sensitive adhesive can easily adhere to the skin, and it is not easy to pull hair or damage the skin when removed—this is especially friendly for sensitive skin or children. In terms of material, most self-adhesive dressings adopt a layered design of "breathable film + absorbent layer": the outer polyurethane film is waterproof and dustproof, which can block the invasion of external contaminants, so there is no need to frequently remove it when bathing or washing hands; the inner absorbent cotton core can absorb wound exudate, keep the wound dry, and reduce the risk of infection; the middle breathable layer also allows air circulation, preventing bacteria from breeding in the wound due to stuffiness and accelerating healing.

However, it is not a "one-size-fits-all dressing"—its applicable scenarios have clear boundaries. It is very suitable for protecting small wounds such as superficial scrapes, cuts (with depth not exceeding the dermis), needle holes after intravenous puncture, and mild burns (first-degree burns); but for deep wounds, festering and infected wounds, wounds with large amounts of exudate, or areas with eczema or severe allergies on the skin, you must seek medical treatment first and cannot use self-adhesive dressings directly. Otherwise, it may worsen the infection or cause allergies.

Proper use is essential to exert its effect. Step 1: Clean the wound—rinse the wound with normal saline or iodophor to remove dirt and bacteria, then gently blot the moisture with sterile gauze. Step 2: Cut the dressing—trim it to be 1-2 centimeters larger than the wound according to the wound size (to ensure full coverage), and avoid making the edges too narrow to prevent falling off. Step 3: Apply the dressing—peel off the protective film, align the absorbent layer with the wound, and gently press the edges of the dressing to make it closely adhere to the skin. Be careful not to pull it repeatedly, as this may affect its adhesiveness. Step 4: Replace the dressing—usually, it should be replaced once a day. If there is a lot of exudate (the dressing is soaked), it needs to be replaced in time. When replacing, check if the wound is red, swollen or oozing pus; if there is any abnormality, stop using it immediately and seek medical attention.

The difference between it and traditional gauze dressings is also obvious. Traditional gauze needs to be fixed with tape, which is easy to loosen due to movement, and it is not waterproof or breathable, requiring frequent replacement; while self-adhesive dressings have a built-in fixation function, with stronger protection and comfort, which can reduce the number of care times. However, it should be noted that self-adhesive dressings cannot be reused. Even if they look clean, the inside may have adsorbed bacteria, and reusing them will increase the risk of infection.

This small self-adhesive dressing is a "capable helper" for scientific wound care. Mastering its usage methods and applicable scope can not only deal with daily small wounds but also better cooperate with medical care, building a safe barrier for wound healing.