When should I use a silicone foam dressing?

Soft silicone dressings can be used on a wide range of low- to highly-exuding wounds, including:

 

They are particularly suitable for patients:

  • with fragile skin, including young children and the elderly;
  • experiencing pain at dressing changes; and
  • where you want to protect at-risk periwound skin.2

What are the benefits of silicone foam dressings?

Silicone foam dressings offer several benefits in wound care:

 

  1. They manage exudate

To manage exudate effectively, you need an absorbent dressing that rapidly removes excess exudate from the wound bed and the surrounding skin. At the same time, the dressing needs to maintain a moist wound environment.3 Silicone foam dressings are flexible and conform well to the body. Clinical studies have shown that these dressings can absorb wound fluid vertically, without the exudate leaking from the wound onto the surrounding skin.2

  1. They help protect the periwound skin

Soft silicone dressings have been described as ‘atraumatic’. This is because they don’t cause trauma to the wound or periwound skin when they’re removed.2 Published studies also suggest that patients whose wounds are dressed with these dressings experience less discomfort on removal and less maceration than those dressed with conventional dressings.4 Soft silicone dressings are therefore recommended when you want to help minimise patients’ pain and trauma during dressing removal.5

  1. They can help prevent pressure injuries

Studies show that using a soft silicone multi-layered foam dressing can protect the skin for individuals at-risk of pressure injuries.6

References
  1. exudate: effective assessment and management. Wounds International, 2019
  2. Meuleneire F et al. Soft silicone dressings made easy. WINT 2010
  3. Adderley UJ. Managing wound exudate and promoting healing. Wound Care 2010.
  4. Soft silicone dressings: frequently asked questions (worldwidewounds.com)
  5. European Wound Management (EWMA) Position Document. Pain at wound dressing changes. MEP, 2002.
  6. Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers/injuries: Quick reference guide 2019