Hydrofera Blue Wound Care Dressings from Hollister – Ostomy Product Review
Have you heard about Hydrofera Blue Dressings before? I hadn’t until recently when I was having some skin issues. My fantastic nurse brought these to my attention, and the dressing has helped the area heal. It is easy to apply and manage. Whenever I find such good tips and tricks, I like to share them with the ostomy community in hopes it could help someone else like it has me. Reminder: I am not a nurse; I am just an ostomate sharing her experiences.
Hydrofera’s Background
Hydrofera is a US-based company that has been producing a unique line of antibacterial wound dressings since 1996. In the year 2000, Hydrofera won the “Medical Device Excellence Award,” and in 2020, Hydrofera was honoured with the “Top Wound Care Solution Providers” award by MedTech.
My Personal Experience Using Hydrofera for Wound and Ostomy Care
With any skin and wound-related issue, it’s always best to figure out the why so you can treat it properly. My recent issue happened as a result of trying out a 2 piece system. 2 piece systems work fabulously for many people, but for me, not so much. 1 and 2-piece systems have different profiles, and my stoma site does better with a 1-piece. As I bent, the 1 piece moved out with me, whereas the 2-piece moved into me and ended up cutting right through my skin, causing a pretty big wound.
I booked an appointment with my nurse at my Ostomy & Wound Care Clinic, where I was introduced to the Hydrofera Blue Foam Ostomy Ring. My wound was just in one spot and not all around my stoma, so using my Coloplast Ostomy Scissors, I was taught to cut a section of the foam ring & cover the wound. The foam ring has 2 textures, and I applied the more shiny wrinkle side of the foam over the wound. This antibacterial dressing does not release anything into the wound but instead draws bacteria into the dressing, where it is effectively killed. The ring can be used in its entirety, as shown in this image if you’re experiencing skin irritation. I rarely get such irritation, but if I do, I will definitely use the ring to treat it, as I’m sure it will be very effective. As previously mentioned, you always want to find out why in order to treat the issue properly. Skin irritation can happen for a variety of reasons, from materials to leakage.
With my colostomy, I do a change once a time instead of emptying, which keeps my skin very clean and healthy when I don’t have issues like this wound. With the help of the Hydrofera ring, daily changes and back to wearing my 1 piece, my wound has healed for the most part. Before I saw my nurse, I was in so much pain. Sitting, standing, walking – it was absolute agony. Most wounds take time to heal, and with help from things like hydrofera, you can recover and be well again. I’m so impressed with the Hydrofera Blue Ostomy Ring that it’s now a staple in my ostomy kit. It’s always a good idea to have tools ready for the instances you don’t see coming.
Hollister makes a complete line of Hydrofera Blue Dressings which can be used for various wounds. Dressings can be left in place for up to 3 days, depending on the clinical condition of the wound. A health care provider determines the duration of use and depends on wound type and conditions. Hydrofera Blue dressings are compatible with growth factors, enzymatic debriders and can be worn safely during Hyperbaric Chamber therapy. From onset to outcome, the Hydrofera Blue wound dressings powerfully tackle any type of chronic or non-healing wound. Hydrofera Blue delivers an advanced line of wound care products designed to shorten healing times, lower treatment costs, and deliver better patient outcomes.
As patients, we go through so much. If you are having a hard time navigating all of this, we are here to help. Contact me, Carly, at Inner Good anytime to ask me about everything mentioned above and any questions you may have about products.
