What Is Alginate Dressing?

Alginate dressing is a wound dressing which contains alginate fibers derived from seaweed.These dressings are used in the management of wounds which are producing a great deal of exudates,such as deep sores.They are available through some drug stores and also through catalogs which sell medical supplies and they may be applied by nurses or wound care specialists as well as being managed at home by patients and their caregivers.

Alginate dressings have a number of properties which appear to promote wound healing.These dressings are highly absorbent,with the dressing picking up exudate through an ion exchange reaction.Calcium ions on the dressing are swapped for sodium ions in the material which seeps from the wound, allowing the alginate to swell and slowly turn gel-like over time.

The alginate dressing is an occlusive dressing,intended to cover the whole wound.In addition to absorbing fluids which seep from the wound,they also create a barrier which resists bacteria and other organisms.This reduces the risk of infection at the wound site and limits complications which may emerge during the course of recovery from the wound.

References

WorldWideWounds.com: Alginate Dressings

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