Hydrocolloid dressing

Not to be confused with Hydrogel dressing.

A large hydrocolloid dressing

A hydrocolloid dressing is an opaque, translucent, or transparent ^[1] medical dressing for superficial open wounds. Such a bandage is biodegradable, ^[2] and breathable; depending on the dressing selected, it may also adhere to the skin so that no separate taping is needed. ^[3]

The active (wound-side) surface of the dressing is coated with a cross-linked dispersion of gelatin, pectin, and carboxymethyl cellulose together with other polymers, elastomers, and/or adhesives to form a flexible, thin wafer or film; the outer side is typically a polyurethane tape or foam. In contact with wound exudate, the polysaccharides and other polymers absorb water and swell, forming a gel. The gel may be designed to drain, or to remain within the structure of the adhesive matrix. ^[4]

The moist conditions produced under the dressing are intended to promote wound healing, including fibrinolysis and angiogenesis, without causing softening and breakdown of tissue. Most hydrocolloid dressings are water-resistant, allowing gentle washing and bathing. ^[5]

Uses

A hydrocolloid dressing on a finger

The dressing is applied to a cleaned wound, and usually used to treat uninfected wounds. ^[6] The dressings may be used, under medical supervision and with an antibiotic to treat the infection, even where aerobic bacterial infection is present.^{[ citation needed ]}

In addition to treating abrasions, minor incisions and lacerations, and superficial puncture wounds, hydrocolloid dressings are used to cover skin-graft donor sites, ^[7] burns, ^[8] and cutaneous ulcers (including pressure ulcers or "bed sores", ^[9] venous ulcers, ^[10] and diabetic foot ulcers). ^[11]

Small hydrocolloid patches are sometimes also used for acne, to heal the pimples and avoid scars from them. ^[12]

Large dressings with a consistent, adhesive film across the active side (rather than a central pad of hydrocolloid foam) can be cut into smaller strips or other shapes, for use in place of a traditional adhesive bandage of the same size.

An indirectly medical use of strips of hydrocolloid dressing is as an alternative to surgical tape, e.g. to secure a nasogastric tube or CPAP mask to a patient's face.^{[ citation needed ]}

Efficacy

Hydrocolloid has been shown to be superior to other dressing substrates (e.g., alginate, film, gauze, hydrofiber, or silicone) tested for treating skin-graft donor sites. ^[7]

There is tentative but unclear (as of 2013 ^[update] ) evidence for the efficacy of hydrocolloid dressings for superficial and partial-thickness burns. ^[8]

The results of meta-analyses indicate no significant difference in healing rates between hydrocolloid dressings and other dressings (including simple gauze dressings) for venous ulcers, ^[10] or for diabetic foot ulcers. ^[11]

References

1. "Comfeel Plus Transparent". Coloplast.co.uk. Humlebæk, Denmark: Coloplast. Archived from the original on 25 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
2. Kennedy, J. F.; Bunko, K. (2009). "The use of 'smart' textiles for wound care". Advanced Textiles for Wound Care . Elsevier. pp. 254–274. doi:10.1533/9781845696306.2.254. ISBN   978-1-84569-271-1. S2CID   107857160. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
3. Wietlisbach, Christine M. (2020). "Wound Care". Cooper's Fundamentals of Hand Therapy . Elsevier. pp. 154–166. doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-52479-7.00017-x. ISBN   978-0-323-52479-7. S2CID   243089436 . Retrieved 8 November 2023.
4. Thomas, S.; Loveless, P. (14 July 1997). "World Wide Wounds: A comparative study of the properties of twelve hydrocolloid dressings". WorldWideWounds.com. Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory, Bridgend and District NHS Trust. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
5. "Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory Dressings Datacard: Bordered Granuflex". Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
6. Andrews, Karen L.; Derby, Kelly M.; Jacobson, Therese M.; Sievers, Beth A.; Kiemele, Lester J. (2021). "Prevention and Management of Chronic Wounds". Braddom's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Elsevier. pp. 469–484.e4. doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-62539-5.00024-2. ISBN   978-0-323-62539-5. S2CID   224870006. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
7. Sinha, S.; Schreiner, A. J.; Biernaskie, J.; Nickerson, D.; Gabriel, V. A. (June 2017). "Treating pain on skin graft donor sites: Review and clinical recommendations". The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. 83 (5): 954–964. doi:10.1097/TA.0000000000001615. PMID   28598907. S2CID   44520644.
8. Wasiak, J .; Cleland, H.; Campbell, F.; Spinks, A. (28 March 2013). "Dressings for superficial and partial thickness burns". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013 (3): CD002106. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002106.pub4. hdl: 10072/58266 . PMC   7065523 . PMID   23543513.
9. Heyneman, Alexander; Beele, Hilde; Vanderwee, Katrien; Defloor, Tom (2008). "A systematic review of the use of hydrocolloids in the treatment of pressure ulcers". Journal of Clinical Nursing. 17 (9): 1164–1173. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02218.x. ISSN   1365-2702. PMID   18416792.
10. Palfreyman, Simon J.; Nelson, E. Andrea; Lochiel, Rona; Michaels, Jonathan A. (6 May 2014). "Dressings for healing venous leg ulcers". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2006 (3): CD001103. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001103.pub2. PMID   16855958 . Retrieved 15 July 2012.
11. Dumville, Jo C.; Deshpande, Sohan; O'Meara, Susan; Speak, Katharine (6 August 2013). "Hydrocolloid dressings for healing diabetic foot ulcers". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013 (8): CD009099. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009099.pub3. ISSN   1469-493X. PMC   7111300 . PMID   23922167.
12. Massick, Susan (21 December 2020). "This TikTok acne remedy really does work". WexnerMedical.OSU.edu. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.