Wound Dressings

[rockyracoon]

Monday week ago, I used a mandolin without the guard on and shaved a chunk of skin off my little finger. It poured blood for a couple of days, so I went to the minor injuries clinic. They cleaned it, and used something called Silflex over the wound, then put an adhesive dressing over the top. They gave me some spare dressings, but I've run out. I used something called Opsite, and they were great, lightweight and breathable, but the cushioned pad inside has stuck to the wound. I soaked it in warm water so that it came off easier, but I worried it'll stop the healing process.

Should I use the Opsite, or should I try to find some of this Silflex stuff? Or, better still, if there's an alternative that I can buy in a chemist.

Ta RR

[Peter Pedant]

opsite should be OK
soaking in warm water is what they used to use in Burns dressings and it worked OK

yes soaking rips off the petite epithelial growing cells
but you have to balance that with keeping the wound clean ( if dirty it WON'T heal)

remember the guard - how many four fingered mantholeen players are there ?

[Souldarkness]

I would look for an alginate dressing which can go between the skin and opsite. They dissolve in warm water so they don't damage the healing wound

[rowanwitch]

Ask the pharmacy for a non adherent silicone dressing, seaweed (alginates ) used to be prescription only so while they are really good are expensive . Silflex is a silicone dressing but there might be cheaper versions

[rockyracoon]

Thanks all. I’ve ordered some silicone dressing from Amazon.

Thank God for Prime.

[TonyV]

when you are next a chemist buy a first aid box. I carry one in my car

[rockyracoon]

I have two first aid boxes. Unfortunately, neither of them have the dressings that I need.

[Old_Geezer]

There's a guard ?

[rockyracoon]

There is. A very effective one, when you use it.

[bednobs]

sillicon dressings are expensive. A simple na dressing from the chemist would do just as well (under the opsite)

[Tuvok]

Been there, done that (but not as drastic as yours - I just cut mine, didn't add flesh to the slices!)

[rockyracoon]

What’s an na dressing, Bednobs? I’ve already bought the silicone.

Tuvok, it was awful, a slice of finger flesh, sitting atop the cucumber. The amount of blood was horrendous.

[237SJ]

non adhesive?

[pixie374]

We use Inadine and multisorb padding over it.

[bednobs]

its the name.
although looking at them online, i see they are silicone coated anyway which i didt realise!
https://www.medisave.co.uk/n-a-ultra-dressing-9-5x9-5cm-1x40.html

[rowanwitch]

Non adherent, the surface that touches the wound is treated so it doesn't stick. Some use silicone, some use modified plastics, and some use alginates..