How to Change DuoDERM

Your doctor may advise you to use a hydrocolloid dressing, such as DuoDERM for wounds like ulcers or burns. Those who suffer from chronic wounds, or slow-healing wounds, may especially benefit from this type of bandage. These dressings provide an ideal, moist environment for healing, while helping to ward off infections. DuoDERM dressings will typically remain over your wound for up to seven days, unless the area has an abnormal discharge or shows other signs of infection. Your doctor may also tell you exactly how often to change your dressing.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Saline solution
• Cloth
• Paste/ointment

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Instructions

• 1

  Use one hand to gently depress the skin beyond the border of the old DuoDERM dressing. Lift the edge with your other hand and work around the entire boundary of the dressing, loosening all the edges. Lift the dressing and discard it.

• 2

  Clean the wound with an antibacterial soap, or in accordance with your doctor's directions.

• 3

  Rinse the wound with saline solution and pat the entire area dry with a clean, lint-free cloth.

• 4

  Select a DuoDERM dressing size that will cover at least 1/4 inch of the surrounding skin beyond the boundaries of the wounds.

• 5

  Remove only the top backing paper from the dressing. You should still see border material surrounding the actual dressing.

• 6

  Press the dressing gently over the wound with the adhesive facing downward. Ensure that the dressing covers the entire wound, and smooth the edges.

• 7

  Lift up the border material and fold it back, until you can grasp the release papers. Remove the release papers from the adhesive on the border and discard them. Gently smooth the border onto the skin.