A Brief Guide To Collagen Wound Dressing

By Beryl Dalton


Wounds are a nuisance especially when they get infected or if they are chronic. Collagen wound dressing provides an easier way to make them heal much faster. Also, the dressing has an antimicrobial patch which limits potential infections. Despite the fact that they are a new concept to most patients, they are ideal in healing most types of wounds such as second degree burns and skin grafts.

Collagen dressings are biological materials used in covering wounds to enhance healing. They are made from animal sources such as cattle, horse or porcine and later treated to prevent allergic reactions. It maintains a moist environment to enhance healing. It is fitted with gelling actions which sooth the patient and provides comfort.

For starters, collagen is a protein. Its found naturally in humans whose function is to help close up a wound and speed the recovery process. This happens because of its ability to attract fibroblasts and keratinocytes to the site of broken skin. Subsequently, it encourages debridement, re-growth of epithelial cells and angiogenesis. Lastly, it is a natural scaffold for growth of new tissues and responsible for giving the skin its tensile strength. Fibroblasts bring together the matrix to form stronger scar.

Dressings made from the biological material are available in variety of pore sizes and surface areas and may be in form of gels, pastes, powders or sheets that are placed on broken skin. These attributes enhances management aspects of the healing process. They are changed every seven days on average to remain effective. Since they last a while without the need to change, they are economical for the patient and maintain the environment for a while.

The material works in certain type of wounds. Its applied to full thick or partial ones, chronic non-healing, necrotic and those with minimal to heavy exudates. Such wounds may be emanating from graft sites, surgical processes or abrasions. Also, those caused by diabetes, pressure and venous ulcers are treated by type of dressing. Lastly, they also work well on first and second degree burns.

However, collagen does not fix all broken skins like third degree burns. The dressing also is contradicted for patients with active vasculities or those with known sensitivity to bovine, swine or avian materials. The material is also contraindicated for patients with sensitivity to the silver used in the antimicrobial patch. If under supervision of a health care professional, the dressings may be used for compression therapy.

The collagen contents can only be used on one patient at a time. It is also, for strictly external use only. When using, there should be minimal contact with the intact skin and edges of the broken skin. In addition, its illegal to buy from or on order from anyone apart from a physician.

Compared to other materials, collagen is superior since it is easy to apply. Moreover, it is natural and is known for not causing pain. Since it is natural, patients who are not sensitive tend to not get immunogenic reactions. Its already part of the natural healing process of the body, so it speeds the process even further especially when added artificially. Lastly, it is really effective in patients whose healing process has stalled; it jump starts and speeds up the process.




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