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Wet to Dry Dressings

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Wet to Dry Dressing Changes ( twice daily)

 Follow these steps to remove your dressing:

• Wash your hand before and after each dressing change.
• Carefully remove the tape.
• Remove the old dressing. If it is sticking to your skin, wet it with warm (not hot) water to loosen it.
• Remove the gauze pads or packing tape from inside your wound.

Cleaning your wound:

• Use a soft washcloth to gently clean your wound with warm water and soap. Your wound should not bleed much when you are cleaning it, but a small amount of blood is okay. Rinse your wound with water and gently pat it dry with a clean towel. Do not rub it dry. You may choose to do this in the shower.

Check the wound for:

• Increased redness or swelling
• Foul odor
• Drainage
• Color of drainage.

Changing your dressing:

• Pour saline into a clean bowl. Place gauze pads and any packing tape you will use in the bowl.
• Squeeze the saline from the gauze pads or packing tape until wet but no longer dripping.
• Place the gauze or packing tape in your wound. Carefully fill in the wound and any spaces under the skin. Do not let the wet gauze or packing touch any healed skin.
• Cover the wet gauze with a large dry dressing pad. Use tape or rolled gauze to hold this dressing in place.
• Wash your hands when done.

When to call your doctor:

• Worsening or more redness
• More pain
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Wound is larger or deeper, wound looks dried out or dark, drainage has increased, the drainage has a bad smell.

*This article is intended as a guideline only. This is not intended as medical advice. There are no guarantees written or implied from the information presented here. Only a consultation can provide an appropriate evaluation and discussion regarding any procedure. Refer to your physician for medical decision making and advice.