When Is The Right Time To Change The Wound Plester? This Is The Doctor's Explanation

Illustration of the plaster of wounds. (Pexels)

JAKARTA - The plester used to cover the wound must be replaced regularly, so that the cleanliness is maintained and there is no accumulation of bacteria. However, changing the wound plaster should not be arbitrary.

Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Surgeon Experts (PABI), dr. Heri Setyanto, Sp.B, FINACS said that there are different types of injuries, so the handling is also different related to the plaster. This is because each wound has different characteristics.

There are wounds that dry and clean quickly, but there are also wounds that tend to moisturize and produce fluids from the inside. Therefore, the time to replace the plaster cannot be equated for all injured conditions.

However, the right time to replace the plaster of the wound itself is when the plaster adhesive looks moist, dirty, or there is a change of color on the part that covers the wound.

"If you look from the outside there is something that is darker in color, it means there is a liquid product from within, and it must be replaced," said Doctor Heri when met in Central Jakarta, recently.

The plester also needs to be replaced when exposed to water or dirt from outside, because it can reduce its function of protecting wounds properly.

"Or there is something that wets the plaster from outside. For example, if it gets water, or is contaminated with dirt, it must be replaced," he explained.

However, as long as the plaster is still dry and sticks well, there is no need to rush to replace it. It should also be noted that taking off the plaster too often can make the wound heal longer, because the area of the injured skin is often exposed to air and bacteria from the outside.

In addition, for wounds such as because surgery has different characteristics with ordinary or light wounds. In replacing the plaster, it should be done with medical assistance and following directions from the doctor.