[Modern dressings. Hydrogels]

Hydrogels are occlusive types of dressings. They are three-dimensional nets made up of hydrophil polymers. They can be produced from synthetic or semisynthetic materials or a combination of the two. Hydrogels retain different percentages of water but are themselves insoluble in water. This is why they maintain on the wound surface their structure and do not dissolve. They are suited for the dressing of wounds with low secretion such as grade I and II burns, grade I and II bedsores and above all epithelial defects, major skin abrasions and areas after collection of epithelial grafts. Their use is contraindicated in infected wounds, in wounds with a massive secretion and ulcers of arterial origin. Although the domain of their clinical use are clean granulating or already epithelizing wounds, they are very well suited also for rehydration of dry and black skin necroses. Their advantages include minimal pain in the wound as well as the fact that they can be left on the wound without redressing till complete healing. This is made possible also by the fact that they are translucent.