Which plaster on which wound?

Blood wounds: ‘normal’ plasters

If you get a wound, it is wise to rinse it with tap water or to treat it with a disinfectant liquid. Then stick a plaster on it to prevent dirt and bacteria from getting into the wound. These patches come in all shapes and sizes. And they are made in different materials. They are often made of textile or water-resistant plastic. There are patches with a fleece layer for sensitive skin. In addition to the difference in material, plasters differ in softness of the wound pad and in adhesive strength and elasticity. The last two properties are important when the wound has to bend, for example with a knee or an elbow. There are also plasters whose wound pad already contains a disinfectant. The application of iodine is then no longer necessary.

Superficial abrasions: plaster sprays

In addition to the traditional plasters, plaster sprays have been for sale for years. These are mainly intended for superficial scrapes and wounds in places where plasters are difficult to stick, such as between the fingers. They are easy to use: just spray and the wound is completely covered. Such a layer is skin-friendly, transparent and allows air to pass through. In addition, it contains substances that disable bacteria and the wound heals faster. After a few days, the wafer-thin membrane disappears by itself due to the natural skin cell renewal process. One can contains spray for about 50 ‘patches’. Because the layer is transparent, it is a nice alternative for wounds on visible parts of the body.

Severe abrasions: gel plasters

Wounds heal faster and better if they remain moist for some time, according to research. This stimulates cell renewal in the wound. A scab actually hinders that process. For larger abrasions that are difficult to heal, plasters have been developed whose wound cushion is filled with a special gel. These gel plasters keep the wound moist and at the right temperature. Because no scab forms and the wound heals faster, the chance of scarring is smaller.

Blisters and Cold Sores: Hydrocolloid Patch

Hiker’s dilemma: to pop blisters or not? Piercing has the great advantage that you are immediately relieved of the annoying pressure. However, it is not wise to do this. An infection is lurking, because bacteria can easily crawl through the hole in the skin. If you still want to prick and prevent an infection, you can apply a blister plaster to the hole. This so-called hydrocolloid plaster does not give bacteria a chance, soothes the pain and accelerates healing. When you put a blister plaster on a blister, the painful pressure disappears immediately and the blister will not break.

Blisters can be prevented if you stick the plaster preventively, for example on the heels during a long walk. The soft wound pads of blister plasters prevent pressure and friction. Another option to prevent blisters is silicone gel. You lubricate this, for example, on the places where the shoe causes friction. Let it dry and your feet are protected for six hours. All these products are only intended for blisters and not for ordinary wounds. And certainly not when they’re infected.

Hydrocolloid plaster also proves its worth with cold sores. About 80 percent of people are chronically infected with the herpes simplex virus type 1. In most people, this virus hides in the nerve cells. But about 20 percent of the carriers are unlucky. In them, the virus regularly travels via a nerve to the skin surface, where it causes the well-known cold sore. Such a thick, stinging spot on the lip, where blisters first and later scabs appear, is not only annoying and painful, but also highly contagious. Until recently, applying an antiviral cream was the only treatment. You can now also stick a patch. A small and transparent hydrocolloid patch covers the lip blisters, reducing the burning sensation and itching. The chance that you will infect others is also considerably smaller. The patch should be changed regularly until the lip has healed. This healing process, which takes about eight to 12 days, is not faster because the patch does not contain antiviral agents.

Burns: hydrogel plaster

You should rinse burns under the tap until the fire is out. The water should be lukewarm. About ten minutes is enough to reduce the pain and reduce swelling and blistering. But most people don’t have that patience. A hydrogel plaster offers a solution. The hydrogel temporarily lowers the skin temperature by 2 degrees Celsius. This cooling provides immediate pain relief and reduces the risk of blisters.
You can safely stick the plaster on a small second-degree burn, which is open in contrast to a lighter first-degree wound. The plasters are not suitable for larger burns, especially if they are infected, and for third-degree burns – the worst variant where the white-black wound is dry and leathery and hardly hurts. In those cases, you should always seek medical help.