DIY Petrolatum-Gauze Dressings

Telfa pads are non-adhering gauze bandages especially useful for wounds that are lightly oozing.  They come in two sizes--2x3 and 3x4.  

But they aren't what is wanted for dealing with wounds that need to be kept moist.  What's needed are petrolatum-gauze dressings.  They are ideal for a number of reasons:

• faster wound healing;
• less scarring;
• lower risk of infection;
• less painful dressing changes;
• less trauma to the healing wound;
• prevent air and contaminants from reaching wound; and
• retain heat, moisture, and medication.

Petrolatum-gauze dressings, sold commercially as Xeroform, find application for a number of conditions:

• first- and second-degree burns;
• slightly weeping wounds;
• donor sites and skin grafts;
• new circumcision wounds;
• lacerations and abrasions.

Petrolatum-gauze dressings should not be used on infected wounds.

Unfortunately, these dressings can get a little expensive.  They start at about a dollar apiece for the small ones, so it doesn't seem too pricey, but if you need larger ones and/or several bandage changes, well, that adds up.  However, these are an easy DIY project that can be made if and when needed.  Here's how:

Using a small pan and a canning jar as a double boiler, bring Vaseline to a boil in a canning jar to sterilize it.  With a sterile instrument, spread the Vaseline on a sterile piece of gauze or food-grade plastic wrap.  (Colored plastic wrap, such as is commonly available in grocery stores around Christmas and Easter, is thicker and easier to manage.)  

That's all there is to it.  Just make it as needed.  

Links to related posts:  
First-Degree Burns  
Second-Degree Burns  
Lacerations  
Abrasions  
Wound Dressings