How Do Wound Care Products Work?

Wound care products are a class of drugs used for wound irrigation for acute and chronic skin wounds; for cleaning wet ulcers and wounds; as an antiseptic for minor cuts, scrapes, and burns; as a topical skin adhesive to hold closed easily approximated skin edges of wounds, topical application for surgical incisions, and trauma-induced lacerations; and as an adjunct to hemostasis (clot formation to prevent blood loss during an injury) in patients undergoing surgery.

They are also used in severe burns and diabetic ulcers on the lower limbs (foot, ankle, and leg) to promote the healing of the ulcers.

After an injury, the body initiates a three-phased process for healing the wound or ulcers:

• Inflammation: blood flow to the injured or affected area is increased; in case of bleeding from the injured blood vessel, platelets aggregate at the site and form a blood clot and release chemical messengers (proteins) called platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) responsible for sending signals to the cells around the injured area to initiate the second phase of the healing process.
• Proliferation: cells of the normal skin divide and produce new cells to replace the damaged cells and form scar tissue.
• Remodeling: scar tissue is broken down and the new skin assumes the appearance of the old skin.

Wound care products act like naturally occurring PDGF to expedite the recruitment of cells to the affected site and promote the division of cells and the formation of new skin cells.

Wound care products work in the following ways:

• They help in removing the dead skin tissue and aid in wound healing.
• They work by repairing and replacing dead skin and other tissues, attracting cells that repair wounds, and promoting healing of the ulcer.

Wound care products are used in conditions such as:

• Pruritus (itchy skin)
• Adjunct to hemostasis (clot formation to prevent blood loss during an injury) 
• Autologous skin graft adherence
• Tissue flap adherence in facelift
• Diabetic neuropathic ulcers
• Wound cleansing and moistening
• Cleaning wet ulcers and wounds
• Antiseptic for minor cuts, scrapes, burns
• Dermal ulcers (skin ulcers)
• Atopic dermatitis (a chronic skin condition characterized by dry, itchy skin)
• Topical skin adhesive
  • Indicated for topical application to hold closed easily approximated skin edges of wounds
• Cleansing and debridement
  • Used for cleansing, irrigation, moistening, debridement, and removal of foreign material including microorganisms and debris from various skin wounds

Some of the common side effects include:

• Skin irritation
• Redness/swelling at the application site
• Edema (swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the tissues)
• Mild or moderate pain at the affected site
• Burning/stinging at the application site

Other rare side effects include:

• Skin ulceration
• Ulcer infection
• Hypersensitivity disorder
• Tunneling of ulcer (a wound that has progressed to form passageways underneath the surface of the skin)
• Erythema (superficial reddening of the skin, as a result of injury or irritation causing dilatation of the blood capillaries)

Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of wound care products include:

• 2-octyl cyanoacrylate
• Alevicyn
• Artiss
• Becaplermin
• Betaine/polyhexanide
• Cadexomer iodine
• Collagenase
• Dermabond
• Eletone cream
• Episalvan (pending FDA approval)
• Evicel
• Fibrin sealant
• Filsuvez (pending FDA approval)
• Hypochlorous acid topical
• Lodosorb
• NexoBrid (pending FDA approval)
• Oleogel-S10 (pending FDA approval)
• Petrolatum & mineral oil topical
• Prontosan
• Proteolytic enzymes (pending FDA approval)
• Regranex gel
• Santyl
• TachoSil
• Tisseel VH
• Tropazone