Purpose & Use

• Paraffin gauze is a sterile dressing used for wounds that need a non-adherent, protective covering.

• Commonly used for burns, skin grafts, donor sites, abrasions, and post-surgical wounds.

• Helps prevent the dressing from sticking to the wound, reducing pain during dressing changes.

Material & Properties

• Made of sterile gauze impregnated with soft paraffin (petrolatum).

• Sometimes coated with antibacterial agents depending on the product.

• Soft, flexible, and conforms easily to the wound surface.

• Provides a moist environment, which aids in wound healing.

Size & Packaging

• Standard size: 10 × 10 cm, suitable for small to medium wounds.

• Pack contains 10 individually folded or stacked sheets, typically sterile-wrapped.

Advantages

• Non-adherent, minimizing trauma and pain during dressing changes.

• Maintains moist wound environment, promoting faster healing.

• Can be cut to size for irregularly shaped wounds.

• Flexible and easy to apply over various wound surfaces.

Usage Guidelines

• Open sterile packaging and place paraffin side directly over the wound.

• Cover with a secondary absorbent dressing if needed.

• Change dressing as recommended by a healthcare provider, typically every 24–48 hours, or when saturated.

• Always practice aseptic technique to prevent infection.

Common Applications

• Burns: first- and second-degree burns to prevent adherence and reduce pain.

• Skin graft donor sites: protects delicate tissue during healing.

• Post-surgical wounds: prevents dressing from sticking and reduces trauma.

• Minor abrasions or lacerations: keeps wound protected while maintaining moisture.