Gauze, or cloth dressings, are the most commonly used and readily available wound dressings out there today. They can be made from woven or nonwoven silk, linen, polyester, rayon, or cotton causing them to be highly permeable. This type of material is non-occlusive meaning it does not seal on the skin, allowing blood, water, and air to easily pass through. This dressing easily helps the wound dry out, minimizing exudate, the fluid leaking from the wound.
Gauze can come in many different shapes and sizes that can be easily adapted to fit the wound. There are sterile and non-sterile varieties. There are also those with or without an adhesive border. You can use it on anything from a small finger injury to a wound that extends across the body. There are pre-cut varieties in the form of squares, sheets, or packing strips, as well as long wraps that can be wound around a limb or cut to size.
- Gauze sponge: This type of gauze is typically made from 100% cotton, and is commonly used to absorb blood or other fluids. They are usually cheap, and are great for all-purpose use in the cleaning, dressing, packing, and prepping all types of wounds.
- Gauze bandage roll: Also used for all types of wounds, the gauze roll can be used as a first layer or added layer on a wound. The 100% cotton roll can be wrapped around limbs on the head and is especially useful for those wounds that are in an area that is not easy to dress.
Best Uses: We recommend gauze dressing for the protection of open wounds or broken skin which occurred from a minor injury. This could include a scraped elbow, a slightly uncomfortable cut, or injuries in delicate areas. The gauze is used as the first layer of protection, and sometimes the second layer to seal in the dressing. This is especially helpful in an area that is difficult to dress due to the material’s ability to conform to your body. Another use would be to cleanse the wound, as well as keep it free from infection. Due to the inexpensive nature of this material, it can be used for one-time or short-term use and then discarded.