Amerigel® Wound Dressing

Wound Care Instructions

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The following are general guidelines and recommendations and do not take the place of proper medical care by a qualified provider.

Removing the previous dressing

Carefully remove the dressing/gauze that is covering the wound. If the gauze sticks to the wound, wet the dressing with Amerigel® Wound Wash and try removing it again in 10 or 15 minutes. This will help soften the area that is stuck to the gauze and prevent the removal of the healthy tissue from the wound bed.

Cleansing the wound

Place enough 2x2 or 4x4 gauze(s) to cover the entire wound bed and saturate it with Wound Wash. Pick up the gauze with your fingers or tweezers and dab the wound for 1-2 minutes. Discard the gauze and then squirt the Wound Wash directly into the wound bed to rinse out any loose matter. Blot the wound dry with a clean piece of gauze. The wound is now cleansed and ready for application of AmeriGel® Wound Dressing.

Applying AmeriGel® Wound Dressing

After the wound has been cleansed, apply a thin coat of AmeriGel® Wound Dressing to the wound. Also, apply AmeriGel® to the surrounding skin, extending approximately ½” beyond the wound.

Wound Care Tip
	Change the dressing twice a day for the first week and then once daily thereafter.
	Do not use peroxide, povidine-iodine or alcohol on a chronic wound that has existed for more than 90 days.
	Some patients report a “stinging” or a “burning” sensation, similar to that of hydrogen peroxide, when they initially apply AmeriGel®. This is the antimicrobial action working on the wound.
	The wound may drain more and appear to get deeper during the first few days of application. This is a good sign as long as they BOTH happen together. Generally, wounds will heal from the inside out, becoming shallower. As it fills in, the skin will begin to close over the wound.

Dressing the wound

Moisten a gauze (2x2, 4x4, etc.) with Amerigel® Wound Wash. It should be similar in dampness to a washcloth that you would wash your face with, not dripping wet, but not wrung dry. Place this dampened gauze over the wound that has just been coated with AmeriGel Wound Dressing ®. Next, place a dry piece of gauze on top of the damp one. This will help provide a moist environment for the wound and additional gauze to absorb any drainage. Secure into place with tape or roll gauze.

Once my wound heals, how do I treat the skin? OR
What can I do to help prevent my wound from coming back again?

These are two of the most frequently asked questions. Once you know the frustration in dealing with a hard-to-heal wound, you will want to do everything you can to prevent wounds from starting. Here are our recommendations:

After your wound heals, the newly formed skin requires at least 2 or 3 weeks to mature. During these weeks, the wound can reopen if the skin dries out or cracks. Therefore, a preventative moisturizer should be applied at least twice a day to the affected skin.

Amerigel® Care Lotion is a premium preventative skin conditioner that moisturizes and protects the skin from breakdown. It should be applied to the skin once the wound has healed and continued daily for a minimum of 30 days. After that, apply the Care Lotion once daily and get into a routine of moisturizing your lower legs, ankles and feet. The Care Lotion will keep the skin softer, particularly around the ankle and on the heels of your feet.

The majority of wounds occur on the lower legs below the knee. They are usually found around the shin, the ankle or on the foot itself. Statistics show that some wounds will reoccur every 3-5 years, so prevention is important. The American Diabetic Association recommends that you inspect your feet daily and see a podiatrist once a year.

Don’t go through the time and effort of healing your wound and then have it reopen. Use Amerigel® Care Lotion after your wound heals and continue its use daily. After all, healthier skin is less prone to develop problems.