Patient education: How to change a dressing (The Basics)

What is a dressing? — A dressing covers a wound. It is secured in place and protects the wound and clothing. Dressings can be used to help keep a wound clean as it heals. Some kinds of dressings need to be changed a few times each day. Others need to be changed once a day or so.

Each time you change a dressing, you will carefully remove the old dressing and bandages. Then, you will wash the wound and put a new dressing over the wound.

When you change the dressing, you should see signs of normal healing. Examples include:

●Bright red blood – It is normal to see a small amount of bright red blood when the dressing is removed. The bleeding will decrease as the wound heals.

●Pink drainage – As the wound heals, you will see less fluid draining from it, and it will look clearer.

●Wound shrinkage – As the wound heals, it should get smaller.

You might see some thick, yellow tissue. As the wound heals, this will get replaced by healthy pink tissue.

How do I change a dressing? — Your doctor or nurse will give you instructions on exactly how to change the dressing. They will also tell you how often to change it. This is based on the kind of wound you have and the type of dressing materials you will use.

If you were given medicine for pain, you might want to take it 30 to 60 minutes before you change the dressing.

Gather the supplies, and place them on a clean workspace. You will need clean gloves, the new dressing materials, and a small bag or trash can to throw away the old dressing.

Below are the general steps to follow.

Remove the old dressing:

●Wash your hands well with soap and water before you touch the dressing.

●Put on gloves.

●Gently remove the old dressing. In some cases, your doctor will tell you to wet the old dressing with water if it is sticking to the wound.

•Pull tape toward the wound to remove it.

•Remove all of the old dressing and any packing from inside the wound.

●Throw away the old dressing.

●Take off your gloves, and throw them away. Wash your hands again with soap and water.

Clean the wound:

●Each time you change the dressing, look closely at the wound to check that it is healing. If there is a lot of drainage or the amount of pus is increasing, tell your doctor. Look at the skin around the wound for signs of infection like color changes, swelling, or other skin changes.

●Wash the wound gently with soap and water. Rinse, then pat dry with a clean, soft cloth. Do not rub the wound when washing or drying.

●Remove any bits of old dressing from the wound.

●Wash your hands again with soap and water.

Put on the new dressing:

●Put on clean gloves.

●Follow your doctor's instructions for covering or packing the wound. This might also include putting medicine either directly on the wound or on the wound edges.

●If your wound needs to be "packed," your doctor or nurse will show you how to do this. It involves putting gauze or other special material into the wound. This packing material helps absorb drainage if the wound is wet. It can also give provide moisture if the wound is dried out. It helps keep the wound clean as it heals.

●Cover the new dressing with a dry bandage, if needed, and secure with tape.

●Take off your gloves, and throw them away. Wash your hands with soap and water.

What else should I know? — Talk to your doctor before you swim or soak your wound in water. It is usually OK to shower normally and then put on a clean dressing.

Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to make a follow-up appointment. If so, make sure that you know when and where to go.

When should I call the doctor? — Call your doctor or nurse if you have any signs of an infection. These might include:

●Changes in skin color, swelling, warmth, or increased pain around the wound

●More fluid draining from the wound, including pus, blood, or watery fluid, especially if it has a bad smell

●Streaks on the skin going away from the wound, or streaks going up your arm or leg

●Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher

More on this topic

Patient education: Caring for an open surgical wound (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for a closed surgical wound (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgical site infection (The Basics)