Wound Healing Products

Mederma

Average Cost: about $20 for a .7 oz tube

Manuf & Website: Merz http://www.mederma.com

Available: over the counter at most pharmacies or order online.

Usage: Gel that helps keep scars moist and soft. Use after the wound is healed. Also helps fade scars so that they're less noticeable.

User Comments: none so far.

Adaptic Non-adhering Dressing

Average Cost: $28 box of 50 3"x3" pads

Manuf & Website: Systagenix (http://www.systagenix.com/lets-heal/lets-comfort/adaptic-8)

Available: over the counter at most drugstores

Usage: Top dressing for wounds. Petroleum saturated gauze, non-adhering dressing so it won't stick to the wound. Keeps the wound moist.

User Comments: none so far.

Nu Gauze w/Iodoform

Average Cost: $13 for 5 yards

Manuf & Website: Alba Healthcare

Google Results for Nu Gauze w/Iodoform

Available: OTC at pharmacies or internet mail order

Usage: helps to control bleeding and prevent pooling of wound fluid. Nu Gauze is also available without the Iodoform, which has an anti-microbial property and used as a disinfectant. Consider this if if you are having wound bacteria issues.

User Comments: "You evidently lay the strip near the incision, getting ready to insert it toward the back of the wound and gently push it in with a Q-tip. Don't use force! Push it in till it's snug but not too snug..."

Kaltostat Wound Packing

Average Cost: $50 for box of 10

Manuf & Website: ConvaTec http://www.convatec.com

Available: order online or from pharmacy/medical supply store.

Usage: Wound dressing that consists of an absorbent calcium alginate fiber, derived from natural seaweed. May be left in place for up to 7 days. This would be a product to consider in cases where normal packing is extremely painful.

User Comments: "It's biodegradable and soaks up a lot of the moisture in the wound to form a gel like substance which can be easily removed, even washes out sometimes in a shower...it may be less uncomfortable than a rough gauze."

Aquacel

Average Cost: $60 box of 10, rope or pads

Manuf & Website: ConvaTec http://www.convatec.com/en/cvtus-aqcagdbpus/cvt-portallev1/0/detail/0/1442/1838/aquacel-ag-dressing.html

Available: order online or special order through pharmacy.

Usage: Antimicrobal wound dressing with Ionic Silver, prevents wound infection and absorbs exudate. Available in rope or pads and won't stick to wound. May be left in place for up to 7 days. This would be considered for wounds with bacteria issues and/or in cases where normal packing is extremely painful.

User Comments: "its basically some weird thing that absorbs fluid and turns into gel. Its great."

Scarlet Red Ointment Dressing

Average Cost: $42 Box of 12

Manuf & Website: The Kendall Company http://www.kendallhq.com/catalog/prodlisting.asp

Available: online at several sites or order through pharmacy/medical supply store

Usage: Wound dressing pads infused with Scarlet Red Ointment. Helps promote healing.

User Comments: "helps to prevent hypergranulated tissue. It seems to be helping somewhat. The irritation is minimal and I believe my wound is actually getting smaller." **my research on the web really touts this stuff as working great! The pad of this dressing is infused with Scarlet Red, which is a red fat-soluble azo dye, used as a biological stain for fats; it has some power to stimulate the proliferation of cells, and has been used to enhance wound healing.

Restore Hydrocolloid & Restore Calcium Alginate Dressing

Average Cost: $23 box of 5

Manuf & Website: Hollister http://www.hollister.com

Available: online at several sites or order through pharmacy/medical supply store.

Usage: Highly absorbent calcium alginate dressing, available in rope or pads. There are a number of variations of these products, some have Silver infused into the dressing. The Silver infused products would be used in cases where the wound is having bacteria issues.

User Comments: "I am now using a product called Restore calcicare, by Hollister. It is made of calcium sodium alginate, and it comes in a rope form (part #HO9940) that lays easily into the wound bed. It's more comfortable, and you can actually do it yourself! The dressing provides a moist interface and keeps the wound open as it heals from the "bottom up".

Mepore Pro Dressing

Average Cost: $24 box of 60

Manuf & Website: Molnlycke Health Care http://www.molnlycke.com/com/wound-care-products/

Available: online at several sites or order through pharmacy/medical supply store

Usage: Waterproof top dressing. Self-adhesive absorbent wound top pad for lightly exudating wounds.

User Comments: "fibrous and breathable which seemed to help dry the wound and keep t a bit fresher."

Mepilex Transfer

Average Cost: $65 box of 5 (6"x8" sheets, cut into smaller pieces as needed)

Manuf & Website: Molnlycke Health Care http://www.molnlycke.com/com/wound-care-products/

Available: online at several sites or order through pharmacy/medical supply store

Usage:Ideal for areas with fragile skin. Minimizes trauma to the wound on removal. Helps maintain a moist environment and leaves no residue. Adheres gently to surrounding skin without use of traditional adhesives .Eliminates stripping of epidermal cells. Can be lifted and repositioned. Transfers exudate away from the wound bed.

User Comments: :"It's made of silicone so its really good on skin, its absorbent and when it come to taking it off it doesn't make you cry as it doesn't pull your hair as it is micro-adherent."

DuoDerm CGF

Average Cost: $19 box of 5

Manuf & Website: ConvaTec http://www.convatec.com/en/cvtus-duodcgfbus/cvt-portallev1/0/detail/0/1534/1851/duoderm-cgf-dressing.html/

Available: online at several sites or order through pharmacy/medical supply store

Usage: A hydrocolloid dressing pad that interacts with wound exudate to produce a soft gel mass that enables removal of the dressing with minimal damage to newly formed granulating tissue. Can be worn for up to 7 days. Consider using in cases where normal packing is extremely painful.

User Comments: none so far.

Cavi-Care Foam Dressing

Average Cost: n/a - available to professionals only

Manuf & Website: Smith & Nephew http://wound.smith-nephew.com/au/node.asp?NodeId=3553

Available: doctor or nurse application

Usage: a dressing designed for cavity wounds with exudate. Stays in place for several days in between changes. Available only to Wound Care Professionals.

User Comments: none so far.

Hydrofera Blue

Average Cost: $54 box of 10 2"x2" pads

Manuf & Website: Hydrofera http://www.hydrofera.com/hydro_blue.html

Available: order online

Usage: Moist pad made of polyvinyl alcohol sponge. Protects against bacteria and can stay in place up to 3 days. Place over the top of the wound, then place a top dressing over the Hydrofera Blue sheet.

User Comments: Dr. James Pingree has been using this product and raves about its effectiveness.

Dermagran B Hydrophilic Impregnated Gauze

Average Cost: $50 box of 25 2"x2"

Manuf & Website: Derma Sciences http://www.dermasciences.com/products/advanced-wound-care/

Available: order online

Usage: Provides either a primary cover or filler for chronic and acute wounds. Contains Derma Sciences zinc-nutrient dressing formulation and balanced pH technology, providing a moist, mildly acidic environment conducive to wound healing. In addition these products contain Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, calcium and Magnesium. Use to speed/enhance healing.

User Comments: none so far.

PolyMem WIC Silver - Rope or Cavity Wound Filler

Average Cost:$75 for box of 6 pcs rope 14" ea, Cavity Filler is $130 box of 10 3"x3" pads.

Manuf & Website: Ferris http://www.polymem.com/PolymemSilver.asp

Available: order online

Usage: PolyMem Wic expands within the wound cavity to fill dead space, keeping the wound bed clean and moisturized while absorbing excess fluid. PolyMem Silver Formulation PolyMem Wic Silver and PolyMem Wic Silver Rope have small particle silver added to the PolyMem formulation. When you use the PolyMem QuadraFoam Silver formulation on a wound, moisture and fluids in the wound bed are absorbed into the dressing, releasing silver ions, which protect the dressing from microbial contamination.

User Comments:"The best bandages I have tried is something called PolyMem which is very easy to use and friendly to wear. Then use Mefix tape to fix it and change it every day or two."

 

"Dressing that contains the following wound healing agents: a wound cleanser, a mild bacteriostatic, a moisturizer and an absorbing agent. Feels like foam."

Silvercel & Actisorb Silver

Average Cost: $47 box of 10 2"x2"

Manuf & Website: Systagenix http://www.systagenix.com/global/our-products/

Available: order online

Usage: Dressings have a unique composition which creates a favourable environment for effective wound management . The silver fibres kill a broad spectrum of microorganisms associated with the bacterial colonization and infection of wounds. Usage would be for wounds with bacteria issues.

User Comments: none so far.

3M Medipore Soft Cloth Tape

Average Cost: $5 for 10 yard roll of 1"

Manuf & Website: 3M http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/wound-care/skin/products/medical-tapes/

Available: OTC at drug stores, pharmacies, discount stores

Usage: Cloth tape reportedly offers excellent adhesion with reduced skin irritation.

User Comments: none so far.

3M Micropore Paper Tape

Average Cost:$8 for 10 yard roll of 1"

Manuf & Website: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/wound-care/skin/products/medical-tapes/

Available:OTC at drug stores, pharmacies, discount stores or by special order

Usage: Lightweight paper tape, hypoallergenic and leaves little or no residue. May be useful where regular tapes are causing extreme skin reaction.

User Comments: none so far.

3M Microfoam Tape

Average Cost:$3 for 5.5 yd roll of 1"

Manuf & Web site:3M http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/wound-care/skin/products/medical-tapes/

Available: OTC at drug stores, pharmacies, discount stores or by online order

Usage: Latex-free, hypoallergenic, elastic foam tape designed to stretch and conform while providing secure adhesion to joints or skin folds. Available in rolls and as a sterile tape patch. Microfoam tape consists of closed-cell foam. It is water-resistant and highly conformable. Is excellent for securing dressings and compression applications in challenging areas. It conforms easily to joints or skin folds. This tape Does Not Contain Either Rubber Latex Or Dry Natural Rubber As Components In The Product Or Its Packaging as most other elastic tapes in this class do.

User Comments: "it feels nicer when pulling the outer bandage off..."

Uni-Solve Adhesive Remover*

Average Cost:$13.00 for 8 oz bottle, also available in wipes $13 box of 50

*known as Zoff Adhesive remover in UK and Australia.

Manuf & Web site:http://global.smith-nephew.com/us/UNISOLVE_ADHESIVE_REMOVER_11875.htm

Available: OTC at drug stores and order online

Usage: Adhesive Remover is formulated to reduce adhesive trauma to the skin by thoroughly dissolving dressing tape and appliance adhesives. It is ideal for removing acrylic-based, rubber-based, and hydrocolloid-based residues from the skin.

User Comments: "I actually used these when I had my wound vac in place! They worked wonders for rashes and stuff!"

Allclenz Wound Cleanser

Average Cost: $19 for 12 oz spray bottle

Manuf & Website: Healthpoint http://www.healthpoint.com/products

Available: order online

Usage: supports a moist wound environment, safely and effectively removing wound debris as it cleans and washes. A mild surfactant and wetting agent aids in removing debris and exudate without harming fragile tissue or compromising the natural healing process.

User Comments: none so far.

Sterile Saline Wound Wash

Average Cost: $5.50 for 7 oz bottle

Manuf & Website: Various manufacturers

Available: OTC at drug stores and pharmacies, or order online

Usage: sterile solution gently washes out bacteria and debris

User Comments: "I've been using Blairex's Wound Wash. its really nice for cleaning the inner part of an open wound. not as messy as just the regular bottle of saline you buy."

Dermagran Wound Cleanser with Zinc

Average Cost: $3.60 for a 4 oz bottle

Manuf & Website: Derma Sciences http://www.dermasciences.com/products/advanced-wound-care/

Available: order online

Usage: Solution containing Zinc and Vitamin B6. Zinc saline wound cleanser with moisturizing and lubricating properties. Used to clean dermal lesions, such as pressure and venous stasis ulcers. Extremely low cytotoxicity.

User Comments: none so far

Savlon Antiseptic Wound Wash

Average Cost:$4 for a 100 ml bottle

Manuf & Website: Savlon http://www.savlon.co.uk/

Available: OTC at drug stores, pharmacies, discount stores like Wal-Mart

Usage: Pump spray that contains chlorhexidine gluconate, a powerful anti-infective.

User Comments: "I am about a year post surgery after a muscle/skin flap procedure, I kept my wound clean by washing it with diluted Savlon which contains Chlorhexidine gluconate and kills almost all bacteria in about 15 secs, I have really sensitive skin and I have had no skin reactions to it at all."

DermaKlenz

Average Cost: $8 for 8 oz spray bottle

Manuf & Website: DermaRite http://www.dermarite.com/woundcare.htm

Available: order online.

Usage: No-rinse wound cleanser. Formulated with zinc. Easy spray application. Promotes removal of organic material, blood clots, and dead tissue. No need to rinse afterward, just leave in wound bed.

User Comments: none so far.

MPM SilverMed Wound Cleanser

Average Cost: $20 for 8 oz spray bottle

Manuf & Website: MPM Medical http://www.mpmmedicalinc.com/productdetails.aspx?pin=c.WC.1.p.33

Available: order online

Usage:SilverMed Wound Cleanser is a gentle wound cleanser intended to prepare and cleanse wounds to promote the healing process.  SilverMed Wound Cleanser contains silver microparticles releasing ions as an antimicrobial in a buffered formula to promote healing.

User Comments: none so far.