Hydrocolloid plasters

[hhhhhhhhi]

I've chopped off part of my fingertip and I'm looking into the best way to care for the wound after the hospital dressing comes off. It looks like hydrocolloid plasters might be my best bet as they keep the would moist but I've never used them before and some reviews say they're really hard to take off. I don't want to end up damaging it even more. What is everyone's experience of these types of plasters when it comes to healing wounds? Are they really that hard to pull off?

they are actually v good. The idea is the skin heals underneath and the plaster falls off to reveal new skin. I had a couple of bad burns and they were a lifesaver. I was in agomy when the burns were exposed to.the air and the dressings stopped that. .
Anyway I highly recommend and they stay on through showering etc which is another plus.

Thanks! Is there a brand you'd recommend? Do. you just wait for it to fall off then?

And did it really not hurt your burns when you took it off?

I really damaged my elbow a few years ago and these plasters were amazing. I too was hesitant, thinking it would hurt when it came off but it didn't, and it felt very secure and protected while on.

Sorry about your finger ☹️ Did the nurse who dressed it give any indication on care after the initial dressing is off?

You’re not supposed to pull them off. Just leave the wound to heal until the plaster falls off. They’ll all pretty much the same ime. Tesco ones are just as good as the expensive brands.

no. I never took them off. I think they were on for about 4 weeks and I was told just to leave them on. They peeled and fell off on their own and there was beautiful new skin underneath. And I don't think they stick to the wound anyway. They sort of formed a blister over them and let the body heal itself.
Honestly I had never heard of them but they were amazing and I always have them in my first aid kit now.

I'm glad they helped your elbow. The nurse said it didn't need a dressing and I didn't need to put anything on it but reading online it seems that keeping a wound moist and covered seems to be better than just leaving it to air dry.

I used the duoderm ones. You can cut them to size .

Oh wow, the same plaster for 4 weeks?!

I know.In fact I think.it was longer. I was worried about infection but they are sealed so.nothing gets near the wound.
I was honestly in so much pain with the burns and it stopped that almost instantly because the air on the wounds was so painful.
I was so sceptical but it was like a small miracle the way it healed . You might see some oozing going on as it heals but then they just come loose and there is lovely well healed skin underneath.

I had these on my face after my BCC was removed (no stitches). Initially they fell off every couple of days (I was told this would happen) and then the last one was on for several weeks before it came off itself. I've got a tiny scar instead of what would have been quite a big one if I'd had stitches (it's between my nose and top lip so would have been very obvious too!)

I know one of the people involved in the development of these and honestly they are worth it. I’m not biased, I’ve seen the evidence…2 knees (both with similar cuts from falling off a bike) one with traditional plasters and one with a hydro colloidal dressing. You can guess which one has the scar to this day.

So do they really prevent a scar forming or is it more that you get less of a scar than with traditional plasters?

Just chiming in to agree that hydrocolloid plasters are much better than ordinary plasters on wounds where a lot of skin is missing. Less painful, the new skin seems to grow in from the sides to cover the wound rather than a crusty scab forming that falls off leaving a scar. Dunno how they work but they are worth having in the medicine cabinet.

It sounds like you should make a judgement when the hospital dressing is off. I'm no expert(!) but I'd think there comes a point with wounds once the worst of the pain has gone and it has started to heal so isn't too vulnerable where air is probably best. But until that point then yes, these plasters are great. You might as well get some for your medicine cabinet anyway!

Hydrocolloid plasters are amazing!
2 weeks ago I fell on gravel and tore a small hole in the heel of my hand. Pharmacist recommended hydrocolloid dressing (I bought these Elastoplast ones). 2 weeks later dressing is off, skin a wee bit dry but fully healed.

Ouch! Glad you're on the mend. I was looking at these ones online. So is it really just an all clear plaster? And then the 'healing pod' forms magically around the wound? I think that's what freaks me out about these plasters, that there's no separate bit to place on the wound.

It is, very similar to Compeed blister plasters if you've ever used them?
Have attached a pic of when I first put it on - you can see where the white area is starting to form.