| Hydrocolloids |
Self-adhesive, no need for extra tape |
The gel formed can be thick, yellow, smelly, and easy to mistake for an infection |
Low to moderate exudate wounds. Scratch, post-surgery wounds, pressure ulcers, shallow leg ulcers |
| Creating a light layer of padding |
Not suitable for exudative wounds |
| Moisturizing |
|
| Painless during removing the dressing |
|
| Easy to use |
|
| Alginates |
High absorbency |
Not suitable for dry wounds |
Pressure ulcers, fluid lower-extremity ulcers, infected wounds |
| Hemostasis |
Sticking to granulation tissue easily if not changed frequently |
| Highly biocompatible |
|
| Hydrogels |
Cools, soothe wounds, and relieve pain |
Not suitable for fluid oozing wounds |
Burns, especially partial burns, foot ulcers |
| Changing the physicochemical properties, forming reactive materials, responding to changes in temperature, pH, and drug release |
Requiring tape for fixation |
| Foams |
Absorbing and transmitting moisture |
Effecting on new tissue growth ability and causing injury when removing the dressing if kept for too long |
Burns, chronic wounds, deep ulcers, wounds in exudate cavities |
| Wound cushion |
| Not necessary to change as often, depending on the amount of discharge |
| Films |
Thin and elastic, easy to pull, shape to the wound |
Easy to fold and stick |
Burns, wounds of joints, skin grafts with small thickness, superficial lacerations |
| Transparent, easy to monitor wound condition |
Poor absorbing, only suitable for wounds with little secretion |
| Impervious to microorganisms |
No antibacterial properties |
