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The purpose of wet dressing
1. To reduce inflammation by reducing constriction of blood vessels
2. Cleanse the skin of exudates, crusts and scales
3. Maintain drainage of infected area
Wet dressing is used for vesicular, bullous, pustular and ulcerative conditions. The
dressing solutions generally consist of room temperature of tap-water or saline and
other agent including silver nitrate, aluminum acetate, and potassium permanganate 5%
acetic acid with sodium hypochlorite.
Although some dressing must be covered to prevent evaporation, most are allowed to
remain open. The open dressing requires frequent changes because evaporation is
rapid.
Wet dressing should be reapplied every 5 minutes to ensure their wetness It should be
applied for 15-minute period three to four times daily, during the acute phase.
Medication applied to moist skin immediately after treatment with compresses is
absorbed better than dry skin
Brief points about contact dermatitis
Dermatitis is an inflammatory reaction of skin to physical chemical or biological agents.
The epidermis is damaged by repeated physical and chemical irritations
Contact dermatitis may be of primary irritant type in which non-allergic reactions
resulted from exposure to irritant substances or it may be allergic in nature (allergic
contact dermatitis) resulting from exposure of sensitized persons to contact allergens
Causes of contact Dermatitis
- Soap
- Detergents
- Industrial
- Chemicals
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