Skin Wound Closure Strips

The skin wound closure strip is an adhesive medical tape used to close minor skin incisions.It is designed to bring together the skin on both sides of the wound to facilitate the healing process. These strips are often used as an alternative to sutures or stitches because they not only reduce scarring but are easier to manage and maintain. Different types of wound closure strips are suitable for different wound types and locations. Each type of strip comes with specific usage recommendations and techniques to ensure proper application and the best healing results.

Benefits

• Reduced Scarring: Compared to traditional sutures, these closure methods typically result in fewer scars, especially in areas where aesthetic appearance is crucial, such as the face or arms.
• Lower Risk of Infection: Compared to traditional stitches, wound closure strips offer better protection, reducing the risk of infection. Their adhesive nature and ability to isolate the wound from the external environment aid in infection prevention.
• Comfort and Ease of Use: The strips' flexibility and adherence make them comfortable, especially in high-tension areas or regions requiring frequent movement. They are user-friendly and do not require professional medical personnel for application.
• Faster Healing: These closure methods aid in promoting wound healing while providing the necessary support, speeding up the healing process and allowing patients to return to normal activities more rapidly.

Application

Wound closure strips are particularly suitable for areas with pronounced contours or extensive musculoskeletal movements, such as joints, and in scenarios where swelling, edema, hematomas, or bloating might arise. For optimal performance, it's imperative to ensure both the wound and the surrounding area are meticulously clean and completely dry, fostering appropriate adhesion. During the application process, it's essential to exercise caution and avoid exerting excessive tension on the skin. Additionally, these strips can be effectively used in conjunction with specialized adhesive agents like 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate, ensuring secure wound closure.

Precautions

• Ø Allergic Risks: Although rare, some individuals may have allergic reactions to the components of closure strips. It's recommended to conduct a sensitivity test, especially for those allergic to medical adhesives.
• Ø Thorough Cleaning: Ensure the wound is dry and clean before application to avoid contamination. Any dirt can affect healing or cause infections.
• Ø Avoiding Excessive Tension: During application, avoid pulling the wound excessively to prevent increased tension, which could hinder healing.
• Ø Professional Advice: For special or complicated cases, consulting a medical professional is advisable, particularly in instances of bleeding, swelling, or infection.

Variation

Today, a growing array of wound closure strip options are available, catering to distinct wound healing needs. Here are the different types of skin closure strips:

• Reinforced Skin Closure Strips: Comprising porous PU (polyurethane) backing and enhanced polyester fiber support, providing stronger tension support and finer wound edge alignment.
• Blend Tone Skin Closure Strips (Non-Reinforced): Sterile light beige skin closure strips with porous PU backing and pressure-sensitive, low-allergenic adhesive, naturally blending with the skin color, ideal for areas requiring aesthetic appeal, such as the face or arms.
• Butterfly Wound Closures: Comprising two connected adhesive pads to connect both sides of a wound for closure. Similar to other closure strips, butterfly closure strips do not require professional application and aid in better aesthetics for small wounds compared to surgical sutures.
• Waterproof PU Skin Closure Strips: Common Steri-Strips are paper-based and prone to damage when wet, needing to be kept dry and precise. Certain variants, however, use synthetic materials for waterproofing and longer durability. In addition, the waterproof variant of the butterfly closure strip, with its two wider patches, also offers waterproofing capabilities. In addition, PU skin closure strips provide a more comfortable closure and are suitable for a variety of wound types and locations. These devices are increasingly used by healthcare facilities due to their advantages.

The wound closure tape field continues to innovate and is soon to introduce more advanced products. Understanding the characteristics of each closure strip before usage is critical. Proper use according to the instruction manual contributes to healing and decreases the risk of complications. Seeking medical advice is especially crucial in specific circumstances.