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 Wound Care Instructions
download the PDF here
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 Tips |
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Change the dressing twice a day for the first
week and then once daily thereafter. |
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Do not use peroxide, povidine-iodine or alcohol on a
chronic wound that has existed for more than 90 days. |
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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. |
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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.
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