Guide to Wound Dressing

Small cuts, scrapes, and other minor skin injuries may seem insignificant, but every wound deserves proper attention and care.

Do not play down a small wound. Every small impairment of your skin deserves attention and the right treatment for optimal wound healing. Fortunately, today’s wound dressings incorporate the latest medical technologies and come in different shapes, structures, and sizes. Whether you're treating a blister, cut, graze or burn, choosing the right dressing can help protect the wound, support healing and provide the care your injury needs.

Let us guide you through some distinct solutions that you might not even know about. Did you know that today’s generation of Elastoplast plasters can even help reduce the risk of scarring and scab formation? Become the master of your small injury by finding out what is new and best in wound care and discover how the right wound dressing can make all the difference the next time a minor injury happens. Find out more on essential wound dressing products here.

 

The objective of a wound care dressing is to protect the wound from external influences and improve the healing process of your skin.

 

• Flexible Plasters & Extra Tough Plasters
  
  - Suitable for covering and protecting minor, everyday wounds. The flexible material stretches and moves with the skin.
  - Suitable for covering and protecting minor, everyday wounds with super strong adhesion.

• Waterproof Plasters
  
  - Wound protection ideal for washing and swimming.
  
  
• Blister Plasters
  
  - Ideal for immediate pressure and pain relief for blisters on toes and heals, powered by Hydrocolloid Technology.

• Sensitive Skin Pasters
  
  - Hypoallergenic plasters that cover and protect minor wounds on sensitive skin.

• Plastic Plasters
  
  - Suitable for repelling water and dirt while covering and protecting minor, everyday wounds.

No two wounds are exactly the same. The best wound dressing for a minor cut may be different from the ideal solution for a blister, scratches and cuts, as factors such as the size, location and severity of the injury can influence how it should be protected and cared for. Choosing the right wound care dressing can help keep the wound clean, support optimal healing and provide reliable protection throughout the recovery process.

If you've suffered a cut or a scratch (see cuts and grazes): The first thing to do is to clean and, if necessary, disinfect the wound and make sure that debris or small objects are removed.

If the wound bleeds intensely, such as is sometimes the case with cuts in the face or on a finger, stop the bleeding by applying pressure with a Soft Gauze.

When considering how to dress a wound, it is important to cover the injury with an appropriate dressing as soon as it has been cleaned. Keeping a cut covered helps protect it from dirt and bacteria.

Depending on where your wound is located, choose a matching wound dressing. Hypoallergenic Spots are barely noticeable and are ideal for covering wounds on visible body parts. A larger scratched area, such as on the knee, will need a stronger plaster such as from the Elastoplast Plastic or Fabric ranges. Shop our range of wound plasters here
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As part of a good wound dressing guide, it is also important to monitor the wound during healing. Change the dressing as needed, keep the area clean, and watch for signs of infection such as increasing redness, swelling, pain or discharge. If symptoms worsen or the wound does not appear to be healing properly, seek medical advice.

Suffering from a blister? Blisters typically form when friction or pressure damages the upper layers of the skin. If the blister is still intact, you may choose to leave it uncovered to heal naturally. However, if it is in an area prone to rubbing, such as the heel or hand, it should be protected to help prevent further irritation and damage.

As part of a wound dressing guide, using an appropriate blister dressing can help reduce friction, cushion the area and support healing. Seek medical advice if the blister becomes increasingly painful, shows signs of infection, or does not improve over time.

Generally, plasters like Elastoplast Plastic Plasters or Elastoplast Fabric Plasters that are available in different strip sizes or dressing lengths (which can be cut to the desired size) will offer the right coverage for your wound. But depending on where your wound is located, there are suitable choices that offer the ideal shape, size, material or adhesion for your needs.

Find your ideal wound dressing in the Elastoplast range. As a simple wound dressing guide, choose a dressing that fully covers the wound and stays securely in place, especially on high-movement areas such as fingers, hands, knees and elbows.

Very small cuts and scrapes can be covered by Elastoplast Hypoallergenic Clear Spots, tiny round plasters.

Greater patches of skin, such as on knees, elbows and other joints exposed to frequent movement and friction, are ideally covered with an Elastoplast Flexible Fabric Plaster.

Is your wound located in an area that is difficult to cover with a plaster strip? Then try Elastoplast Second Skin Spray Bandage. It offers easy application, it dries quickly to form an transparent, flexible and ultra-thin film to cover and protect the wound.

 

Children often experience minor injuries during sports, playtime and everyday activities, with grazes, cuts and scrapes among the most common childhood injuries. Knowing how to dress an open wound correctly can help protect the injury, support healing and provide comfort. Keeping a well-stocked supply of wound care essentials at home means you're prepared whenever accidents happen.

Different wounds and body areas often require different dressing sizes and shapes. Using an appropriately sized plaster helps ensure a secure fit, protects the wound from dirt and bacteria, and allows children to continue their daily activities more comfortably. For active teenagers, durable options such as Elastoplast Extra Tough Waterproof Plasters can provide reliable protection during sports and outdoor activities. To help your family manage everyday injuries, it's a good idea to keep a variety of plasters and wound dressings on hand.

 

 

Covering wounds on fingers, heels, knuckles and knees can be challenging because these areas move frequently throughout the day. Keeping wounds covered helps protect them from dirt and bacteria while supporting healing.

Flexible dressings are ideal for joints and other high-movement areas because they bend with the skin and stay in place more effectively. Products such as Elastoplast Extra Tough Fabric Plasters provide durable protection while allowing greater freedom of movement. They can also help reduce friction from shoes, clothing and everyday activities.

Another option is Elastoplast Spray Bandage, which creates a transparent and water-resistant seal that allows freedom of movement which feels like a second skin.

 

 

Have you never been a great fan of wound dressings because you have sensitive skin? Then you might want to choose extra skin-friendly options such as Elastoplast Sensitive Plasters. These plasters offer hypoallergenic protection, so they are ideal for those with sensitive skin.

For people with sensitive skin, choosing the right dressing material is important. Soft and breathable plasters keep wounds, cuts and grazes clean and dry while they heal.

If you are prone to skin sensitivity, selecting a dressing specifically designed for delicate skin can help provide reliable protection while supporting a more comfortable healing experience.

 

 

 

• Wash your hands thoroughly

Wash your hands and check if your wound needs cleaning too. If small objects are embedded (sand, glass etc.) remove with a dry clean cloth or rinse under water.

• Clean the wound carefully

Cleaning the wound won't hurt with the mild cleansing wound spray. Usually, it is recommended to clean the graze or abrasion.

• Apply an appropriate wound dressing

Now for the right wound dressing: See whether you need a dressing or a plaster. Elastoplast offers a wide range of wound care for every need and in every size and texture – transparent or extra durable.

 

Covering fingers, heels, knuckles, and knees can be tricky, as you move them a lot, but you‘ll want to keep them covered to keep dirt out.

Try specialised plasters such as Elastoplast Extra Flexible Fabric Plasters which provide durable protection for those body parts as well as allowing for greater mobility.

Another alternative: Using a liquid spray bandage such as Elastoplast Spray Plaster. The convenient and transparent wound protection provides instant action against bacteria. The sprayed-on film is flexible and can be applied even in awkward or hard-to-reach places, it is waterproof (shower-resistant!) and only needs to be applied once.