The importance of the microclimate in wound healing

The microclimate of the skin refers to the temperature, humidity, and airflow next to the skin’s surface. This means that the relative humidity should be managed to avoid extremes of either excess wetness or drying of the skin.¹

Effective microclimate management plays a key role in pressure injury prevention and in wound healing. When used as part of a protocol of care, dressings that allow moisture to evaporate reduce the likelihood of maceration, thereby protecting intact skin from pressure injury², and may also optimize the wound healing environment.

ConvaFoam™ dressings include our tried-and-trusted AQUACEL® Hydrofiber® Technology. Hydrofiber® Technology micro-contours to the wound bed to eliminate dead spaces.^*3,4,5 By locking in wound exudate, ConvaFoam™ dressings mirror the wound surface, reducing lateral spread, and vertical wicking reduces peri-wound skin maceration.^3,6,7,8

*Not applicable with ConvaFoam Silicone dressings

References

1. Clark M, Black J Skin IQ Microclimate Manager, Made Easy. Wounds International 2011. 2(2).
2. WHRI8052 MS174 ConvaFoam Dressing Characteristics for the use in Skin Protection
3. WHRI8051 MS173 In-vitro Performance Characteristics of ConvaFoam
4. Jones S, Bowler PG, Walker M. Antimicrobial activity of silver‐containing dressings is influenced by dressing conformability with a wound surface. WOUNDS. 2005;17(9):263‐270.
5. Hoekstra MJ, Hermans MH, Richters CD, Dutrieux RP. A histological comparison of acute inflammatory responses with a hydrofibre or tulle gauze dressing. J Wound Care. 2002;11(3):113‐117.
6. Bowler PG, Jones SA, Davies BJ, Coyle E. Infection control properties of some wound dressings. J Wound Care. 1999;8(10):499‐502.
7. Walker M, Hobot JA, Newman GR, Bowler PG. Scanning electron microscopic examination of bacterial immobilisation in a carboxymethyl cellulose (AQUACEL®) and alginate dressings. Biomaterials. 2003;24(5):883‐890.
8. Waring MJ, Parsons D. Physico‐chemical characterisation of carboxymethylated spun cellulose fibres. Biomaterials. 2001;22(9):903‐912. 7