Frequently Asked Questions on Silicone Dressing


Silicone Dressing
What is a soft silicone dressing?
A soft silicone dressing is a dressing coated with soft silicone as an adhesive or a wound contact layer. Soft silicone belongs to a specific family of solid silicones which are soft. These dressings can be removed without trauma to the wound or surrounding skin.
Can soft silicone have any effect upon a wound or the wound-healing process?
Silicone is static so it does not interact chemically with the wound or effect the cells aiding in the healing process. Again, the wound healing process is not disturbed when taking off the dressing since soft silicone dressings can be taken off easily and do not traumatise the wound or the surrounding skin.
Is it possible that soft silicone can enter the system and produce an undesirable effect?
Silicone is insoluble in wound exudate and the size of its molecules do not allow it to penetrate through cell membranes or pass through the skin into blood vessels. Therefore, soft silicone cannot enter the circulatory system. So, they cannot have any adverse effect on the system.
What are silicones?
Silicones are polymers (long-chains) with a structure that consists of alternate atoms of silicon and oxygen with organic groups attached to the silicon atoms. The degree of polymerisation determines the physical form of the silicone, which can vary from thin oils to relatively hard rubbers or resins.
What are soft silicones?
Soft silicones are a particular family of solid silicones, which are soft and tacky. These properties enable them to adhere to dry surfaces.
Are there different types of soft silicone dressings?
There are different types of soft silicone dressings including atraumatic wound contact layers, absorbent dressings for exuding wounds and also a dressing for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids.
What are the main indications for soft silicone dressings?
Soft silicone dressings are suitable for almost all indications where it is important to prevent trauma to the wound and the surrounding skin and pain to the patient. The different types of soft silicone dressings meet different clinical needs.
Is soft silicone safe?
Silicones are chemically inert and adverse effects from the use of silicones in medicine and surgery are rare. Results of animal studies with silicones have shown they do not cause skin reactions or systemic toxicity. Soft silicone has been approved for use in wound management by regulatory bodies around the world.
Can soft silicone dressings cause skin reactions?
Silicone is inert and less likely to cause sensitivity reactions than many other materials used in wound dressings. They are also widely used in consumer cosmetic products and as pressure sensitive adhesives in transdermal drug delivery systems.
Is soft silicone absorbent?
Soft silicone is not intrinsically absorbent, but it can be applied as a facing layer to dressings containing absorbent components that are used for the management of exuding wounds.
What clinical advantages do soft silicone dressings offer over other types of dressings?
Published studies suggest that patients whose wounds are dressed with soft silicone dressings experience less trauma, less discomfort on removal and less maceration than those dressed with conventional dressings, thus reducing treatment costs.
Why are soft silicone dressings described as 'atraumatic' dressings?
Soft silicone dressings are described as atraumatic dressings because in clinical studies it has been shown that they can be removed without causing trauma either to a wound or to the surrounding skin or pain to the patient.
Can soft silicone dressings be used on infected wounds?
Where there are clinical signs of infection, the use of soft silicone dressings may be continued if appropriate antimicrobial treatment is initiated.
Can soft silicone dressings be used on diabetic foot ulcers?
Some early reports suggest that soft silicone products may have a role in the treatment of the diabetic foot.
Do soft silicone dressings have a role in scar management?
An international advisory group of scar management experts have recently published evidence-based clinical recommendations that support the use of silicone gel sheeting as a first-line therapy on immature, linear and widespread burn hypertrophic scars and minor keloids. Silicone gel sheeting should also be considered as a first-line prophylactic measure to help prevent the development of hypertrophic scars or keloids after surgery.
What is Safetac technology?
Safetac is a patented soft silicone coating technology designed specifically for wound management dressings. On the moist wound bed the Safetac layer actually ''floats'' on the wound base because it is hydrophobic, but allows for drainage to be absorbed into the cover dressing or the absorbent layer. This means:
- Minimized risk of traumatizing the wound and surrounding skin upon removal
- Less pain for the patient
- Undisturbed wound healing and less risk of peri-wound maceration
- Less frequent dressing changes