Moist Wound Healing

The idea of moist wound healing was born in 1962 when George D. Winter discovered that epithelization, the process of wound closure, would proceed twice as fast in a moist environment than under a scab. Today, the principle of moist healing is generally accepted in the professional field, where many products have been developed for the healing of chronic wounds via moist wound therapy. 

Covering a wound with a moist wound healing product creates an ideal wound climate which will...

• Enable most favourable conditions for wound closure (epithelization), the formation of new tissue and the immune system.
• Let the healing process remain undisturbed and ensure faster healing.
• Prevent scab formation to optimize cell migration and reduce the likelihood of scarring.

Hydrocolloids are thickening, gelling and stabilizing agents. They are able to absorb water and wound fluid, swell and form a gel. Due to their high water retention capacity (even under pressure) excess of wound fluid is locked away. Hence, hydrocolloidal dressings take up wound fluid to form a gel that produces a moist environment which facilitates fast healing.

Hydrocolloid wound dressings ensure faster and more beautiful healing as they provide a moist environment, which accelerates wound repair and reduces the risk of scarring. Further, they cushion the wound and thus relieve pain and pressure. The hydrocolloidal matrix is very flexible, waterproof yet breathable and permeable to water vapour. Also, hydrocolloidal wound dressings are tolerated very well by sensitive skin.