1. I am not sure which product to use for my condition, can you help me?
2. Is AmeriGel® really “Physician Recommended”?
3. What works on eczema, psoriasis or other forms of dry, itchy, cracked skin?
4. I have thin skin that bruises easily (Purpura), will the Care lotion help?
5. How does AmeriGel® Wound Dressing heal a wound?
6. What are the ingredients in AmeriGel® Wound Dressing?
7. Why is keeping the wound debrided so important?
8. Why should I choose AmeriGel® Wound Dressing over a “first aid antibiotic ointment”?
9. Does AmeriGel® contain an antibiotic to help fight infection?
10. Why do I need to cover my wound?
11. What is a moist saline gauze dressing?
12. What should I use to clean my wound?
13. Should I use peroxide or betadine on a diabetic/chronic wound?
14. Where can I buy Amerigel®?
15. How does the “ 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee” work?
16. Why does my wound “ burn” or “ sting” when I apply AmeriGel®?

1. I am not sure which product to use for my condition, can you help me?
Our friendly customer service staff is available to answer your questions and help you. You can reach customer service at 1-800-448-9599, Monday – Friday,8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, EST.

2. Is AmeriGel® really “Physician Recommended”?
Yes, absolutely. On our home page, we have a box that asks for a city and state to help you find a podiatric physician in your area. We have over 3000 physicians listed in our database across the country and this list is growing. In February 2004, Podiatry Management’s Annual Survey rated AmeriGel® Wound Dressing as the # 1 topical for the post-operative care following nail surgery. To see physician testimonials, Click Here

3. What works on eczema, psoriasis or other forms of dry, itchy, cracked skin?
Amerigel® Care Lotion is a unique skin conditioner that 1) moisturizes and softens the skin, 2) exfoliates to remove flakes, scales and other build-up and 3) helps eliminate itching and inflammation without the use of steroids. Although there is no known cure for eczema or psoriasis, Amerigel® Care Lotion helps manage the skin problems often associated with these conditions. Click here for Amerigel® Care Lotion information.

Back to top ^

4. I have thin skin that bruises easily (Purpura), will the Care Lotion help?
Yes, Amerigel® Care Lotion helps the body reabsorb excess fluid trapped underneath the surface of the skin and rebuilds elasticity to prevent further breakdown. For bruising, we recommend applying Amerigel® Care Lotion two to three times a day to the affected area. Within a few days the black and blue coloration will fade to a purple. As you continue to apply the Care Lotion, the purple fades to a red and eventually a healthy pink color. If you bruise easily, apply Amerigel® Care Lotion daily to restore moisture and rebuild elasticity in your skin, while preventing further breakdown. Click here for Amerigel® Care Lotion information.

5. How does AmeriGel® Wound Dressing heal a wound?
AmeriGel® Wound Dressing helps promote the healing process by:

• Fighting the common germs that can cause infection.
• Keeping the wound bed clean of useless tissue that can accumulate.
• Promoting new tissue to grow in the wound bed, helping it to heal from the inside out.
• Provides a barrier to protect the wound from infection.

Click here for AmeriGel® Wound Dressing information.

6. What are the ingredients in AmeriGel® Wound Dressing?
Oak extract (Oakin™), Meadowsweet extract, Zinc Acetate, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) 400 & 3350.

Back to top ^

7. Why is keeping the wound debrided so important?
Debriding means the removing of dead/dying tissue or debris that accumulates inside the wound. A scab covering the wound or a yellow splotch inside the wound is an example of accumulation. In a chronic wound, this accumulation can slow down the healing process and be a good medium for bacteria and germs to grow. That is why it is so important to keep the wound clean and debrided.

8. Why should I choose AmeriGel® Wound Dressing over a “first aid antibiotic ointment”?
The two main reasons that wounds will not heal, in general, are due to infection and build-up of necrotic (dead/dying/useless) tissue in the wound. While the “first aid ointment” fights infection, it lacks the ability to keep the wound free of necrotic tissue. Click here for the complete explanation.

9. Does AmeriGel® contain an antibiotic to help fight infection?
AmeriGel® is antimicrobial and antifungal, which means that AmeriGel® can kill bacteria and microorganisms that could cause infection, much like an antibiotic. To be considered an “antibiotic” by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the medication must contain a drug. AmeriGel® contains Oakin™, an oak extract that kills bacteria and inhibits their growth, like a typical “triple antibiotic ointment.”

Back to top ^

10. Why do I need to cover my wound?
All wounds should be covered with some kind of dressing to protect it from germs that could cause infection. We recommend using a moist saline gauze dressing to cover the wound. This also helps promote a moist wound bed, which, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), is the optimal environment for healing to take place. Wounds left open to the air will dry out and often times form a scab. In chronic non-healing wounds, scabs can delay the healing process and, in many instances, the scab may need to be surgically removed by a healthcare provider so that healing continues.

11. What is a moist saline gauze dressing?
A moist saline gauze dressing is a gauze (2X2, 4X4, etc.) that is dampened with saline (hospital-grade saltwater.) It should be dampened similar to a washcloth that you would wash your face with, not dripping wet but not wrung out completely either. After applying AmeriGel® Wound Dressing, moisten a gauze pad with Amerigel® Saline Wound Wash and place it directly over the wound. You will then need to cover the moistened gauze with a dry gauze pad and use tape or roll gauze to secure the dressing in place. If the gauze sticks to the wound when you try to remove it, wet the dressing with Amerigel® Saline Wound Wash for 10 – 15 minutes. This will help ease in its removal without being painful. Click here for Amerigel® Saline Wound Wash information.

12. What should I use to clean my wound?
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) issues clinical practice guidelines for proper treatment and recommends the use of saline (hospital grade saltwater) for wound cleansing. We recommend using Amerigel® Saline Wound Wash to rinse and irrigate the wound. Cleansing the wound with soap and water may leave soap residue if not rinsed adequately. To make matters worse, most health departments allow for certain amounts of additives in their water, like chlorine and bacteria, that can slow down the healing process. Using Amerigel® Saline Wound Wash eliminates these risks. Click here for Amerigel® Saline Wound Wash information.

Back to top ^

13. Should I use peroxide or betadine on a diabetic/chronic wound?
No, these have been found to be harmful to new developing tissue in a chronic wound. A chronic wound is a wound that has been present for more than sixty days. For an acute wound, like a fresh scrape or cut, peroxide or betadine (povidone-iodine) could be used to cleanse the wound. When using Amerigel® Saline Wound Wash AND AmeriGel® Wound Dressing together, it is not necessary to use peroxide or betadine.

14. How can I buy Amerigel®?
There are several ways:

• Look on our homepage for the box that says “Find A Doctor in Your Area.” Select a city and state to locate a physician who carries Amerigel®.
• You can order on our website with a credit card.
• Call Amerx Health Care and place your order over the phone using credit card, check or money order.
• Call your pharmacy and ask them to “special order” Amerigel®. 
  

15. How does the “30-Day Money-Back Guarantee” work?  
Amerx Health Care is dedicated to making quality skin and wound care products. Most people are reluctant to purchase a product that they are not familiar with. However, the only way to truly find out if a product will work for you is to try it. Our guarantee is simple; try any Amerigel® product for 2 or 3 weeks to see how it works. If you are not satisfied for any reason, simply return the remainder of the product to us and we will refund the original cost of the product. (Shipping and Handling charges are not refundable.)

16. Why does my wound "burn" or "sting" when I apply AmeriGel®?
The skin is the largest organ in the human body and it contains many nerve endings. Some are deep in the skin and others are close to the surface. Any time there is an opening in the skin, there is always a chance that a nerve ending may be exposed or very close to the wound.

The burning sensation, often described as feeling like a “hot poker,” indicates that there is probably a superficial nerve ending exposed in the wound. Think of the nerve ending as a bare electrical wire without any insulation around it. Once the wound begins to heal, the newly formed tissue will surround and cover the nerve ending, insulating it. As healing takes place, the burning sensation will decrease in intensity and duration.

To help minimize this discomfort, take an extra-strength acetaminophen, aspirin, or other pain reliever (as directed on the bottle) one hour before the dressing change. This should help ease the discomfort and minimize the intensity.