One of the common complications that a burn patient may experience is a scar depending on the severity of the injury. Scars may lead to physical and emotional distress. One of the methods used to deal with and decrease the incidence of scaring is the use of compression garments.
Compression garments are used in the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars, they work by applying pressure to the affected area which helps flatten and improve the appearance of scar.
There are different kinds of compression garments like Ace bandage, pre-fabricated garments and custom made garments.
It is important to wear compression garments in the early stages of the scar (when the scar is fresh and immature) as scars are highly responsive to pressure in their early stages of development. All compression garments should be worn 23 hours a day and should be taken off only during bathing and dressing change, they may have to be worn for up to 2 years after the burn. your doctor will decide when you can stop wearing the garments.
Taking care of the garments:
It is important that you take care of the compression garments; if they become loose or damaged then they will no longer perform their intended function.
- Hand wash the compression garments gently, use mild detergent or mild soap.
- Rinse the garments, squeeze them gently on a towel than lay them flat or hang them to dry.
- You should have at least 2 sets of garments so that when one is washed, the other one is worn.
- Wear socks and shoes over feet garments to avoid wear and tear.
- If the garment becomes damaged, loose, or the patient is a child who grows (too tight), you have to contact your rehabilitation therapist or compression representative to obtain the appropriate size
.
Don’t do the following:
- DON’T use bleach or strong detergent as this may damage the garments.
- DON’T dry garments in the sun and DON’T put them in a washer or dryer because this will damage the garments and make them too loose.
This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.