OCCLUSIVE DRESSINGS

BACKGROUND. Although occlusive dressings speed epithelization, reduce inflammation and tenderness, reduce the chance of infection, stimulate healing of chronic wounds, and produce less scarring, they are still underutilized by physicians and nurses. The principal reasons for their underutilization are fear of infection, the time needed for instructing patients in their use, a lack of knowledge about occlusive dressings, and the general unavailability and high cost of the dressings. METHODS. This chapter describes the principles which help in selection of the proper dressing, discusses the mechanisms of action of occlusive dressings, lists some novel new occlusive dressings, and emphasizes some of the drawbacks of occlusive dressings for chronic wounds. CONCLUSION. While occlusive dressings have become an important treatment protocol, their role in opening the minds of clinicians to the possibility of controlling the repair process may be their greatest contribution to medical science.