Is wound ventilation more important than sealing?

When dealing with daily wounds, many people often fall into the debate between the "breathable school" and the "sealed school": some insist that the wound should be exposed so that it can "breathe", while others believe that covering it with a dressing can prevent infection. In fact, modern medicine has clearly pointed out that the core of wound healing lies in creating a "microenvironmental balance" rather than simply choosing breathable or sealed. Let's take a look at it together.

Traditional misunderstanding: Breathability ≠ accelerates healing

In traditional thinking, exposing wounds can prevent them from being damaged, but this logic has obvious loopholes. A dry environment will cause the active substances in the exudate (such as growth factors and proteases) to be lost quickly, and the epidermal cells need to crawl around the hard scab after scab formation, which reduces the healing rate by more than 30%. At the same time, the risk of adhesion injury between gauze and new granulation tissue is as high as 25%, and frequent dressing changes are more likely to damage fragile tissues.

Wet healing: the consensus approach of modern medicine

Moist healing forms a moist microenvironment on the wound surface through closed or semi-closed dressings. Its core advantages are reflected in three aspects:

Preserve exudate activity: The fibrinolytic enzyme in the exudate can decompose necrotic tissue and avoid local hypoxia caused by scab.

Regulating oxygen tension: A moderate hypoxic environment (oxygen concentration 5%-10%) can promote fibroblast proliferation and accelerate capillary regeneration.

Reduce scar formation: The moist environment reduces excessive deposition of collagen fibers, reduces scar width by 40%, and improves smoothness by 60%.

Hydrocolloid dressings: the "smart choice" for home care

As a representative material of moist healing, hydrocolloid dressings (such as Kanghuier and Mepilex) form a flexible gel layer through sodium carboxymethylcellulose, which has both breathable and sealing properties. Its core functions include:

Dynamic fluid absorption: It can absorb 3-5 times of its own weight of exudate to form a gel barrier and reduce the frequency of dressing changes.

Visual monitoring: The whitening of the dressing edge indicates the amount of exudate, avoiding blind removal that may cause secondary injury.

Painless removal: A hydrogel-like interface is formed between the dressing and the wound, and there is no tearing sensation during removal.

Practical Guide: Scenario-based Nursing Strategies

Scenario 1: Superficial abrasion (such as knee, palm)

Cleaning: After rinsing with saline, gently wipe away blood scabs and foreign objects with a sterile cotton swab.

Dressing: Cut the hydrocolloid dressing (diameter larger than 2 cm of the wound) and apply it slowly from one end to avoid air bubbles remaining.

Observation: Check the edge of the dressing daily. If curling or exudate overflow (diameter > 1 cm) occurs, the dressing needs to be changed.

Scenario 2: Suturing the incision after surgery

Initial protection: Use a transparent film dressing (such as 3M Tegaderm) to maintain a sterile environment within 24 hours after surgery.

Mid-term transition: When changing the dressing 3 days after surgery, cover the incision with a hydrocolloid dressing, which can absorb a small amount of exudate and reduce tension scars.

Late-stage tension reduction: Use silicone gel patches (such as Mepiform) to assist in inhibiting scar hyperplasia.

Scenario 3: Chronic ulcers (such as a diabetic foot)

Debridement: Use silver ion dressing (such as Aikangfu Silver) to treat the infected wound and change it daily.

Moist repair: After the exudate is reduced, use foam dressings (such as Meifu) to absorb the residual exudate, and hydrocolloid dressings to promote epithelialization.

Pressure dispersion: Use pressure-relieving insoles or custom braces to avoid continuous local pressure.

Taboos and Warnings

Absolute contraindications: Deep burns and infected wounds (such as necrotizing fasciitis) require professional debridement and cannot be closed by themselves.

Relative contraindications: People who are allergic to rubber should use hydrocolloid dressings with caution and can use silicone dressings instead.

When to change the dressing: Hydrocolloid dressings should not be used for more than 7 days. If redness, swelling, or odor occurs, seek medical attention immediately.

The essence of wound care is the "art of balance": it is necessary to avoid the loss of active substances caused by excessive breathability, and to prevent anaerobic infection caused by complete sealing. The emergence of new materials such as hydrocolloid dressings has enabled home care to achieve "intelligent moisture control" for the first time. The next time you are injured, you might as well tear off the small dressing and feel the gentle protection brought by medical technology - let the wound quietly regenerate in moisture, and let the scar disappear into time in science. For more information on Innomed®Hydrocolloid Dressing, Refer to the Previous Articles. If you have customized needs, you are welcome to contact us; You Wholeheartedly. At longterm medical, we transform this data by Innovating and Developing Products that Make Life easier for those who need loving care.

Editor: kiki Jia