Intended for healthcare professionals
Treatment

Basics of wound care and dressings

Dr Natasha Harper

MBChB (Hons) MRCP (Dermatology) Consultant Dermatologist1

Kalsoom Begum

RGN Bsc (Hons), PG Cert Community Health Nursing, Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinical Nurse Specialist1

Carol Knowles

RGN, Post Graduate Degree in NHS Health Policy and Management Lead Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinical Nurse Specialist1

Michelle Terry

Dermatology Nurse1
Dr Ajoy Bardhan MBBS BSc MRCP (Dermatology) Consultant Dermatologist1
 

1 Department of Dermatology, Solihull Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Wound care and dressings is an enormous topic with fast-moving innovation and a bewildering number of options. Many dermatologists feel out of their depth advising on this topic, relying upon nursing colleagues both within dermatology and within the extended team, including tissue viability, district nurses and practice nurses.


This article offers a simple guide for general assessment and management which can be applied to any wound encountered in the dermatology clinic.
 

It looks at: the nature of wounds; how wounds should be assessed; the appropriate approach to wound care (including local, patient and wound factors); wound care (removal of dressing, cleansing, and care surrounding skin); and choosing a dressing.
 

It also offers examples of wound types (infected, dry, necrotic or sloughy, heavily exudative and  malodorous) and example dressings for each.

Dermatology in practice 2021; 27(2): 42–46
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Dermatology in practice was previously supported by Wyeth from 2008 to 2010, by Wyeth and Serono in 2007, by Wyeth and Shire from 2005 to 2006, by Medlock Medical in 2004 and by SSL International from 2001 to 2003.

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ISSN 0262-5504 (Print) ISSN 2049-8446 (Online)