How to Change Wound Dressing at Home

A dressing is a material that is placed in and over wounds. A dressing helps your wound to heal by protecting it from bacteria, further injury, and becoming too dry or too wet.

What are the risks?

The adhesive tape that is used with a dressing may make your skin sore or irritated or cause a rash. These are the most common problems. However, more serious problems can develop, such as:

• Bleeding.
• Infection.

How to change your dressing

How often you change your dressing will depend on your wound. Change the dressing as often as told by your health care provider.

Preparing to Change Your Dressing

• Take a shower before you do the first dressing change of the day. If your health care provider does not want your wound to get wet and your dressing is not waterproof, you may need to apply plastic leak-proof sealing wrap to your dressing for protection.
• If needed, take pain medicine 30 minutes before the dressing change as prescribed by your health care provider.
• Set up a clean station for wound care. You will need:
  • A disposable garbage bag that is open and ready to use.
  • Hand sanitizer.
  • Wound cleanser or salt–water solution (saline) as told by your health care provider.
  • New dressing material or bandages. Make sure to open the dressing package so the dressing remains on the inside of the package.

You may also need the following in your clean station:

• A box of vinyl gloves.
• Tape.
• Skin protectant. This may be a wipe, film, or spray.
• Clean or germ-free (sterile) scissors.
• A cotton-tipped applicator.

Removing Your Old Dressing

• Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean towel. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• If you are using gloves, put the gloves on before you remove the dressing.
• Gently remove any adhesive or tape by pulling it off in the direction of your hair growth. Only touch the outside edges of the dressing.
• Take off the dressing. If the dressing sticks to your skin, use a sterile salt–water solution to wet the dressing. This helps it to come off more easily.
• Remove any gauze or packing in your wound.
• Throw the old dressing supplies into the ready garbage bag.
• Remove each glove by grabbing the cuff with the opposite hand and turning the glove inside out. Place the gloves in the trash immediately.
• Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean towel. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.

Cleaning Your Wound

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to clean your wound. This may include using a saline or recommended wound cleanser.
• Do not use over-the-counter medicated or antiseptic creams, sprays, liquids, or dressings unless told to do so by your health care provider.
• Use a clean gauze pad to clean the area thoroughly with the recommended saline solution or wound cleanser.
• Throw the gauze pad into the garbage bag.
• Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean towel. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.

Applying the Dressing

• If your health care provider recommended a skin protectant, apply it to the skin around the wound.
• Cover the wound with the recommended dressing, such as a nonstick gauze or bandage. Make sure to touch only the outside edges of the dressing. Do not touch the inside of the dressing.
• Secure the dressing so all sides stay in place. You may do this with the attached medical adhesive, roll gauze, or tape. If you use tape, do not wrap the tape all the way around your arm or leg.
• Take off your gloves. Put them in the plastic bag with the old dressing. Tie the bag shut and throw it away.
• Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean towel. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have new pain.
• You develop irritation, a rash, or itching around the wound or dressing.
• Changing your dressing causes pain or a lot of bleeding.

Get help right away if:

• You have severe pain.
• You have signs of infection, such as:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • More fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
  • Red streaks leading from wound.
  • A fever.