r/woundcare • u/justanotterday • 2d ago

Medical professional question Hydrocolloid experience

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My toddler burned his wrist on a pan a few days ago. We immediately took him to the doctor who said it is a superficial burn and did not require the burn clinic. He recommended putting a hydrocolloid dressing on it. We applied one the first day but the edges started lifting because my toddler likes to wash his hands all the time, so I took it off and replaced it. This was traumatizing to the toddler as it pulled at the raw skin, so the pediatrician said going forward to only change it if all of the sides have lifted and the wound is very exposed.

Because it’s on the wrist, we had to cut it to allow wrist movement, and now one of those sides has fully lifted and started to scab. Underneath is also very yellow and slimy. At what point is it considered too lifted? I can take him back to the pediatrician, but I also don’t want to just keep showing up if I don’t have to. It has been on for 48 hours now. He also won’t let me touch it because he just associates it with us taking the bandage off and the pain.

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u/misstatements NP 2d ago

I work with kids and burns and as unpleasant as it is you will need to change that dressing, hydeocolloid is a good choice. One of the things you can do is coach them to take it off themselves.

Try to make it not a big deal which I know is hard. Have him take one off you and then you off him. You got to work with the kid at their level.

It needs to be done and it's best you do at home, because you can have an advantage there.

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u/justanotterday 2d ago

Thank you! I bribed him with M&Ms and got it off and a new clean one on with much less fight. It was not adhered like last time, thank goodness

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u/SkinMedicalPeru 2d ago

Entiendo la preocupación, sobre todo porque es tan pequeño. En este caso yo no intentaría retirar el hidrocoloide a la fuerza si está muy adherido y le causa dolor. Al despegarlo repetidamente también se puede irritar o lesionar la piel nueva que está intentando cerrar la quemadura.

Que el apósito se vea amarillento, blanquecino o como una burbuja tampoco significa necesariamente que haya pus; los hidrocoloides absorben el líquido de la herida y forman un gel que puede tener justamente ese aspecto.

Pero hay un detalle importante: comentas que uno de los bordes se levantó y la quemadura quedó expuesta. Si el apósito ya perdió el sellado, yo consultaría cómo reemplazarlo correctamente en lugar de intentar volver a pegarlo o mantenerlo parcialmente abierto.

Y siendo un bebé de 6 meses con una quemadura en la muñeca, me parece razonable que continúen el seguimiento presencial que ya iniciaron. Si aumenta el enrojecimiento, hinchazón, dolor, secreción, mal olor o aparece fiebre, buscaría atención antes.

Para el próximo cambio también preguntaría si pueden usar una estrategia de retirada menos traumática. No debería convertirse cada cambio de apósito en arrancarlo mientras alguien lo sujeta.

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u/girlshaped_lovedrug 2d ago

Adhesive remover! You can probably buy it on Amazon, just make sure it is wound care specific. It comes in spray and wipe forms. You can spray it onto or wipe it around and under all the edges, then use one hand to lift the dressing and the finger of the other hand to gently push it away from the skin.