From early childhood everyone has known a reliable assistant to a family first-aid kit - a band-aid. It helps from various troubles: torn children's knees, a finger cut by a kitchen knife, "corns" and calluses from uncomfortable shoes. But not so long ago, in the pharmacies of our country an improved type of such a first aid item appeared. It has the name "bactericidal patch." What are its advantages and differences, as well as how to use it correctly, we will tell you in our material.
What is a bactericidal patch?
At first glance, this innovative appearance of the patch is not much different from the standard - the same adhesive tape and flesh or white color. In fact, these are completely different medical devices. They are made of different materials and have a different mechanism of action.
A bactericidal patch is an antiseptic. The product possesses such properties due to the impregnation of the gauze dressing with disinfectants: chlorhexidine, furatsilinom, brilliant green, ethyl alcohol. They, in turn, negatively affect many gram-positive and negative bacteria. Thus, the patch not only protects the wound from infection from the outside, but also has antibacterial and disinfecting properties, and also helps to speed up the healing process.
Externally, it is an adhesive base of various shapes and sizes, which in the middle has an inclusion in the form of a multilayer gauze bandage soaked in antiseptics.
Indications for use
What is a bactericidal patch for? Apply it in the same cases as a regular adhesive plaster, namely:
- with scratches, cuts;
- shallow wounds;
- insect bites;
- corns and other small lesions of the skin.
Advantages of the bactericidal patch
In addition to the fact that such a medical product has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, there are other advantages compared to conventional adhesive plaster:
- The material from which the adhesive strip of the bactericidal patch is made has gaps, thereby allowing air to pass through. Due to this, the skin will not be steamed, as happens when using the standard type of product. Thus, the environment favorable for the growth and reproduction of pathogenic bacteria is disrupted, their number is rapidly decreasing, and the process of healing and wound healing is much faster.
- The adhesive base is hypoallergenic, therefore, cases of skin irritating reactions are very rare and are more likely to be individual intolerance to the components of the product by the patient.
- The areas of the bactericidal patch material that are glued to the skin are made in such a way that they practically do not leave a feeling of “stickiness” and dirty marks on the contacting surface (remember the good old adhesive plaster, after which you need to wash the skin area from the good-quality adhesive for another week).
- The aesthetic advantages include the flesh-colored or transparent color of the product, which is hardly noticeable on the body.
Contraindications to the use of the product
There are few direct contraindications to the use of this medical device - these are individual sensitivity and dermatitis of various origins.
But if you plan to use a bactericidal patch on a significant area of the skin, its use should first be discussed with your doctor. So, for example, it is necessary to evaluate the feasibility and safety of using the patch for the treatment of children, pregnant and lactating women.
Varieties
Manufacturers of the bactericidal patch regularly improve this medical device to increase the effectiveness and safety of its use.
To date, bactericidal patches can be divided into three large groups. They are classified by the type of material from which the adhesive base of the product is made. It:
- Elastic patch. Its feature is that it has the ability to stretch, thereby tightly and securely attaching to the surface.
- Water resistant patch. The name of the product itself indicates the possibility of protecting the damaged skin surface from moisture from the outside.
- It is possible to distinguish into a separate group products into which brilliant green is added (popularly “zelenka”). Bactericidal plaster with brilliant green is produced by such brands as, for example, Veropharm, Agaposha and others.
Patch sizes
For the convenience of patients using a bactericidal patch for a wide variety of skin lesions, manufacturers manufacture the product in various forms: round, large and small; narrow and wide stripes. So, for example, with a cut, a narrow short strip will do, and with an insect bite it will be more convenient to use a round shape of a patch. Products differ in size: from the largest for the elbow and knee joints to small plasters for corns or insect bites.
In addition, again, for ease of use and for reasons of economy, pharmacies have a large selection of sets of bactericidal plasters. They are equipped with the necessary number of patches of various shapes. That is, by acquiring such a kit, you can usefully replenish the family first-aid kit with a medical product intended for first aid from various injuries. It is also worth noting that such a set will cost much less than buying individual products of different shapes and sizes.
How to choose a bactericidal patch? Select the dimensions of the product and its shape depending on the intended purpose. Color and texture - according to personal preference. When choosing the material and brand of the patch, pay attention to consumer reviews.
Mode of application
Using a bactericidal patch is very simple. To do this, first of all, you need to rinse, clean and dry the wound. Then open the packaging of the medical device. Carefully remove the protective paper strips from the inside of the patch. Then you need to stick it in such a way that the gauze bandage located in the middle of the product is applied directly to the wound, and the sticky edges have the opportunity to securely and comfortably fix. Lightly press on the glued patch over the entire surface.
Change the bandage as necessary, but at least every 4 hours (excluding night time).
Storage
Store the bactericidal patch in its original packaging in a cool, dry place. The standard shelf life of such a product is 2 years.
If the package was opened, the patch will quickly lose its healing properties. In addition, the adhesive component of the base will dry. The patch will also become unsuitable for use even when stored in a damp room, at high temperature.
Cost
Depending on many factors, bactericidal plasters have different costs: the types of the product directly form the price. So, the presence of antiseptic impregnation, the cost of the materials used, the size, country and brand of the manufacturer are taken into account. For example, the Veropharm domestic bactericidal patch costs 1 to 3 rubles a piece, C-Plast with chlorhexidine, 3–5 apiece, imported products will cost much more, but their quality is much higher.
Sets of adhesives of 20 pieces have an average cost of 60 to 100 rubles.
Reviews
The average buyer often does not even pay attention to what kind of adhesive plaster he gets at the pharmacy. And he does not know the difference between a standard medical device and a bactericidal one. Therefore, you can often find neutral reviews about such a product. First of all, accessibility and usability are evaluated.
Consumers using a bactericidal patch note the rapid healing of wounds, the convenience and aesthetics of the product.
The bactericidal plaster Veropharm gained confidence. It is Russian-made, so it has an acceptable price for a large consumer sector. And the quality meets all the requirements.
A bactericidal patch is necessary for use at home. It should be in every family medicine cabinet. The product is especially relevant in the summer, as well as for families with children.