Wounds are always trouble especially when they get infected. With collagen wound dressing, however, they heal much faster. In addition, the dressings come with antimicrobial agents which inhibit potential infections. Although, new to some patients, they show excellent results in healing necrotic wounds, second degree burns and skin grafts. So what exactly are they?

As its known, collagen dressings are enhancers for wound healing and are made animals such as horses and cattle. Usually, it works by creating a moist environment around the wound and as a result speed up the healing process.

Collagen is known as a protein naturally found in the human body whose growth helps in closing up or rather healing a wound and speeding the recovery. This is made possible through as a result of the fact that it can attract fibroblasts and keratinocytes to where the skin is broken. Consequently, it encourages debridement, angiogenesis and re-growth of epithelial cells. Besides, it provides a natural substrate for growing new tissues. Its also responsible tensile strength seen on the skin.

Dressings made from the biological material are available in variety of pore sizes and surface areas and may be in form of gels, pastes, powders or sheets that are placed on broken skin. These attributes enhances management aspects of the healing process. They are changed every seven days on average to remain effective. Since they last a while without the need to change, they are economical for the patient and maintain the environment for a while.

Collagen is used on only certain types of wounds. For example, those emanating from graft sites, abrasions or surgical processes. In addition, those caused by pressure, diabetic and venous ulcers are treated with this type of dressing. Therefore, it works best with partial or full thick wounds, necrotic, chronic non-healing and those with minimal to heavy exudates. First and second degree burns are also healed.

However, collagen does not fix all broken skins like third degree burns. The dressing also is contradicted for patients with active vasculities or those with known sensitivity to bovine, swine or avian materials. The material is also contraindicated for patients with sensitivity to the silver used in the antimicrobial patch. If under supervision of a health care professional, the dressings may be used for compression therapy.

The collagen contents can only be used on one patient at a time. It is also, for strictly external use only. When using, there should be minimal contact with the intact skin and edges of the broken skin. In addition, its illegal to buy from or on order from anyone apart from a physician.

There are several advantages of collagen which make it superior to other conventional materials. It is already a component of the natural healing process of the body, so it speeds the process of healing even further when added artificially. Also, its natural and does not cause pain; therefore, it does not induce immunogenic reactions in patients who are not sensitive. Patients whose healing has stalled resulting to a chronic wound also benefit. The dressing helps jumpstart and speed up the process.