Dressing Changes: How to Change a Wound Dressing Safely

Changing a wound dressing sounds simple but doing it right prevents infection and speeds healing. This guide gives clear, practical steps you can use at home or at work. Read through before you start so you know what to expect.

What you need and when to change

Gather supplies: clean gloves, sterile dressing, tape or adhesive, saline or wound cleanser, scissors, trash bag, and hand sanitizer. Change dressing when it becomes wet, dirty, or loose, or as your nurse or doctor told you. For small cuts a daily check is enough; surgical or draining wounds often need daily or twice daily changes. If you see heavy drainage, foul smell, or increased pain, change and contact your provider.

Step-by-step dressing change

Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry them. Put on clean gloves. Remove the old dressing gently; peel tape back towards the skin to reduce pain. Look at the wound — note color, amount and smell of drainage, and any swelling or redness. Clean the area with saline using gauze from center outward once. Pat dry with sterile gauze. Apply any prescribed ointment sparingly. Place the new sterile dressing over the wound so it covers the whole area with a margin. Secure with tape or adhesive without cutting off circulation. Dispose of used dressings and gloves in a sealed bag and wash your hands again.

Small details matter. Use sterile supplies for open or surgical wounds. Avoid touching the side of the dressing that will sit on the wound. If tape irritates the skin, use hypoallergenic options or a foam dressing. Keep the wound dry during showers by covering it with a waterproof barrier, but avoid prolonged soaking in baths until healed.

Signs that need attention: spreading redness, warmth around the wound, increased swelling, fever, sudden increase in pain, green or foul-smelling drainage, or bleeding that doesn't stop. Call your doctor or seek urgent care if these happen.

If you care for someone else, keep a dressing log: date, time, appearance notes, and who changed it. This helps track trends and makes communication with healthcare providers easier. For chronic wounds or those on people with diabetes, follow tighter schedules and clinic advice.

When in doubt, ask. Your nurse can show you the first few changes and correct technique. Pharmacy and clinic staff can recommend dressings for skin sensitivity or high-exudate wounds. Proper dressings and timely changes cut infection risk and help wounds close faster. Stick to the plan, spot warning signs early, and get help when needed.

Quick checklist before you start: wash hands, gather supplies, check gloves, open sterile packages without touching the inside, and set a clean surface. If the wound keeps bleeding, producing a lot of thick or green drainage, or won't smell right after a day, contact your provider. For supplies, pharmacies sell starter kits; wound clinics sell specialty dressings for heavy drainage or fragile skin.

You are not alone in this process.