Wound Care Articles

The pandemic has caused one of the longest NHS waiting lists of our times, with 1.2 million people waiting at least 6 months for their surgery. But as the country’s reopening strategy gets into full swing, lots of us will be dealing with wound aftercare before we know it.

Planning for post-surgery care can be as useful as gearing yourself up to go into hospital. Normally, you would rely on your healthcare professional to hand over the right dressings but with the NHS reducing the number of aftercare dressings available on prescription, it’s more important than ever to be in the know about the deluge of dressings available.

Thankfully, Elastoplast’s range of sterile dressings are designed to make the treatment of larger wounds simple. On the tried and tested dressings, Dr. Zoe says: “You’d be forgiven for thinking that a plaster is just a plaster, but with 100 years of experience in developing wound plasters, Elastoplast has kept up with the latest technology and constantly redeveloped dressings, meaning it has always been the respected go to brand for many families.”

When surgery has been said and done, we can sometimes get lost when it comes to our dressings, and this is a cause for concern. It is a long-held belief that allowing cuts to ‘breathe’ is the correct thing to do, however scientific research disproves this. In fact, leaving a wound out in the open air can prolong the healing process which can lead to bad scarring. 

So, it’s very important for you to not only stock up on plasters for cuts and grazes but dressings for larger wounds too. Ideally, a wound needs to be covered with a protected sterile wound dressing that cushions it to ensure that the stitches are not damaged if they are hit or brushed against. Dr. Zoe explains: “When choosing how best to cover a wound, you should opt for a plaster or dressing that is large enough and the correct shape for the non-stick wound pad of the dressing to cover the entire wound.” 

Elastoplast’s Sterile Waterproof XL & XXL MED+ dressings provide the perfect protection. They are waterproof, flexible, and have a super strong adhesive, making them the perfect shower and swimming companion. Although it might be tempting to uncover your wound whilst bathing, it is important to make sure that it is always covered. This is because microorganisms from the water can enter the wound and cause infections. This will delay and cause complications with the healing process and potentially lead to further health problems. 

Sometimes, wounds need a little bit of a clean-up at home. Every once in a while, when you change a dressing, you should think about treating the wound to make sure that it is clean and safe from infection. Cleaning a wound can be daunting but Elastoplast’s pain-free Wound Spray means you can carry out the job at hand in confidence. 

Of course, before cracking open the pocket-friendly solution to seamless healing, you should make sure that your hands are clean, opting for gloves for ultimate protection! When it comes to cleaning, all you have to do is spray the wound from approximately 10cm away, dry the wound and the surrounding area with a sterile compress, cover it with a new dressing and the non-alcoholic solution will work its magic. 

By making sure that you have looked after your wound throughout the healing process, your aftercare is more likely to be super simple. That said, sometimes we need a helping hand when it comes to looking after our healed scars. Dr. Zoe also has some tips for this too, she says: “Consider using a polyurethane patch, such as Elastoplast Scar Reducer XL to cover the scar for 12 hours each day, which provides optimum conditions, such as hydration and temperature for good scar healing."

Elastoplast’s Scar Reducer range is specifically designed to reduce the visibility of raised and coloured scars. Through a mixture of science and seemingly magic, the discreet transparent patches build a barrier around the scarred area to increase the hydration of the area. By hydrating the skin, the patches help to encourage better regeneration, making scars become lighter, flatter, and softer. 

Even when you have tried your hardest to look after your wound throughout the healing process, sometimes things can go wrong. If you are experiencing any pain, swelling, redness or warming around the scar, it might be the first signs of an infection. In this case, or if you are uncertain about your healing, you should visit your doctor. 

Now that you have Dr. Zoe’s top tips for dealing with wounds at home, you don’t have to fret when it comes to post-surgery care!