Convatec Aquacel

What is Aquacel?

Aquacel is a line of antimicrobial dressings designed to block bacteria from entering a wound. These primary dressings are made with hydrofiber, which is a special material that forms a gel when it comes into contact with wound exudate. Hydrofiber retains moisture better than gauze. This keeps the wound moist, creating the ideal environment for healing.

What is a hydrofiber dressing?

Hydrofiber dressings made from soft, absorbent material that contains cellulose, which forms a gel when combined with wound exudate. This flexible material expands and conforms to the contours of a wound bed, which fills in empty space that is prone to bacteria growth. Hydrofiber also locks fluid in the dressing to prevent skin maceration.

What is Aquacel dressing used for?

Aquacel dressings are commonly used on exuding wounds such as burns, incisions, ulcers, and infected wounds. Aquacel dressings are rarely used on dry wounds. This brand has several different lines of bandages to treat specific wound types. It is important to talk to your doctor or nurse to determine which type of dressing will work best for healing your wound. Aquacel Ag is a line of dressings that have ionic silver infused into the bandage. Silver wound dressings area meant to be used on infected wounds. Aquacel Ag bandages kill bacteria within 30 minutes of application and create a barrier to keep microorganisms out of the wound. They also bring down inflammation and reduce pain. Aquacel Ag slowly releases silver into the wound as it comes into contact with exudate. This means that the wound will not be flooded with too much silver at one time, which could damage the wound.

How often do you change Aquacel Ag?

One of the benefits of Aquacel Ag is that it can be kept on the wound for up to 3 weeks. By reducing the amount of dressing changes, the wound has more time to heal. The more the wound heals, the less pain you will experience during bandage removal. Keep in mind, the time frame of dressing changes may vary based on the condition of your wound. If the Aquacel Ag dressing appears to be saturated with fluid or the edges start pulling away from the skin, the dressing should be changed.

An Aqucel bandage is ideal to use on burns, incisions, ulcers, and infected wounds. You'll want to choose a dressing size that covers the entire wound and leaves a 1/2 inch of extra room around all sides. Deep wounds may require the use of gauze or a rope dressing to fill the cavity. Any open space in the wound leaves room for bacteria to grow, which can cause to infection. Be sure to follow wound care and dressing application exactly as instructed by your doctor to avoid complications.

All of the Aquacel products we carry are primary dressings, meaning that they come into direct contact with the wound. Aquacel bandages are available with or without an adhesive border. Bandages with an adhesive border, also known as island dressings, create a waterproof barrier that protects the wound from outside moisture and contaminants. If you will be using a non-adhesive bandage, you can use a secondary dressing like a bandage wrap or medical tape on top to keep the primary dressing in place. We carry paper medical tape and cloth medical tape, both of which use a hypoallergenic adhesive that is gentle and easy to remove. If you're looking for waterproof bandage tape, plastic medical tape and zinc oxide tape are great options.

Before applying a dressing, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly and clean the wound with a wound cleanser. This product will help flush debris out of the wound. Many wound cleansers are made from saline, which helps sanitize the area. Keeping the wound bed clean will speed up healing time. Antiseptic wound cleanser comes in an easy to use spray bottle so that you do not have to touch the wound and risk further contamination. Wound cleansers do not have to be rinsed after they are applied.

Another useful product in wound care is a skin prep solution. This product is designed to remove any residue from the skin and help bandages adhere better. Skin prep creates a protective layer over the skin to repel irritants while still allowing skin to breathe. Skin prep is available in the form of a liquid spray and individually wrapped pads. There are also alcohol-free skin prep formulas available, which are ideal for people with sensitive skin. For additional information, please read our blog on how to use skin prep.