Wound Care Compounding
By combining the proper combination of active ingredients in the most appropriate base, compounded wound care compounding medications can be formulated to provide optimum patient care. Compound medicine offers the flexibility to offer customized wound care solutions designed with each patient in mind.
Common Wound Related Compounding Ingredients
All About Wound Care Compounding
Understanding the Healing Stages of Wounds
The wound healing stages are made up of three basic phases:
1. Inflammation
The first phase of healing is inflammation, the body’s natural response to trauma. After the wound has been inflicted, homeostasis begins – the blood vessels constrict and seal themselves off as the platelets create substances that form a clot and halt bleeding.
2. Proliferation
In the second wound healing stage, proliferation, the wound begins to be rebuilt with new, healthy granulation tissue. For the granulation tissue to be formed, the blood vessels must receive a sufficient supply of nutrients and oxygen. This new tissue is made up of a mixture of extracellular matrix and collagen, which allows for the development of a new network of blood vessels to replace the damaged ones (a process called angiogenesis)
3. Maturation
Maturation, also known as remodeling, is the last stage of the wound healing process. It occurs after the wound has closed up and can take as long as two years. During this phase, the dermal tissues are overhauled to enhance their tensile strength and non-functional fibroblasts are replaced by functional ones. Cellular activity declines with time and the number of blood vessels in the affected area decreases and recede.
Types of Wounds
Acute or Chronic
Acute wounds are those that heal without any complications in a predicted amount of time.
Chronic wounds, on the other hand, are those that take a relatively long time to heal with some complications.
Clean or Contaminated
Clean wounds are those that do not have any foreign material or debris inside.
Contaminated wounds or infected wounds are those that might have some dirt, bacteria, or other foreign markets.
Internal or External
Internal wounds can be due to impaired circulation, nervous system functions, neuropathy or medical illness, or decreased supply of blood, oxygen, or other nutrients.
External wounds can be due to an outside force or trauma caused by penetrating objects or non-penetrating trauma.
Open or Closed
Open wounds are the wounds with exposed underlying tissue/ organs and open to the outside environment, for example, penetrating wounds.
Closed wounds are the wounds that occur without any exposure to the underlying tissue and organs.
Several antibiotics and antifungals are available to treat the wound.
Most Common Wound Care Formulations
1. Fatty acids from pracaxi oil in a topical silicone base for scar and wound therapy.
2. Topical Sildenafil in Wound Care treatment
- Sildenafil in the treatment of pressure ulcer: a randomised clinical trial,
- Effect of topically applied sildenafil citrate on wound healing: experimental study, click here
3. EGCG for Wound Healing and Scar Prevention
4. Occlusive, Water-Soluble Gel (Hydrogel Dressing) for Wound Management
Benefits:
- Adherent
- Occlusive
- Water-washable allowing for easy cleaning and debridement
- Maintains a moist wound site
Ideal for:
- Wounds
- Diabetic skin ulcers, insufficiency (stasis) ulcers, stage I-IV pressure ulcers
- First and second degree burns
- Post-surgical incisions
- Cuts & Abrasions
- Dermatological applications where a water-washable base would be of benefit
5. Topical Phenytoin to Promote Wound Healing
The clinical effect of topical phenytoin on wound healing: a systematic review,
Topical phenytoin treatment of stage II decubitus ulcers in the elderly.
Role of phenytoin in wound healing–a wound pharmacology perspective,
Other Articles:
6. Benzoyl Peroxide for Treatment of Decubitus Ulcers
7. Topical Insulin Accelerates Re-epithelialization
Cell and molecular mechanisms of keratinocyte function stimulated by insulin during wound healing,
9. Topical Sucralfate in Wound Management
Compounded Medications are Versatile
There are just about as many different types of wounds as there are people. For instance, you could have an injury from a car crash, infected surgery scar or insect bite that turns into something nasty. Compounded creams, topical ointments, creams, salves and gels can be used to treat any of the wounds associated with those scenarios. Additionally, compound medication can treat things like pressure sores, cellulitis, diabetic ulcers and vascular lesions.
The advantage of topical compounded medication involves its specific formulation. Since no two wounds are exact in nature, specific compound formulations are developed to address challenges associated with each unique wound. Compounding pharmacists can mix several ingredients into one pain cream to promote healing. This reduces the need for several different medications to be taken and makes treatment more efficient.
11 Factors That Affect Wound Healing
1. Age: Aging affects everything in the body and (as anyone who’s ever read a beauty magazine already knows) that includes the structure and function of the skin. Everything slows down during the aging process, including the phases of wound healing. Skin gets thinner and the body shows a decreased inflammatory response meaning that, as you get older, your skin is predisposed to injury and will heal slower when injury occurs.
2. Nutrition: Proper nutrition is vital to optimal healing. A wound is unable to heal properly if you lack the necessary nutrients for cell repair and growth.
3. Obesity: Anyone surpassing their ideal body weight by 20% or more has a greater risk of infection when healing a wound.
4. Repeated Trauma: If you have multiple wounds or have undergone a severe trauma (e.g. surgery) your body’s defense mechanisms will be limited and slow wound repair.
5. Skin Moisture: Skin needs an adequate amount of fluid and moisture to be viable. If you’re prone to dry skin (especially common in the elderly) you may be at risk for skin lesions, infection, and thickening, which will all impair wound healing. On the flip side, if the skin is too wet, you’re at risk for developing maceration and/or infections, so maintaining an optimal level of skin moisture is imperative for healing wounds.
6. Chronic Conditions: Chronic diseases have a direct impact on the body’s natural ability to heal. Cardiovascular conditions are among the most detrimental, but diabetes and immunodeficiency conditions can also slow wound repair.
7. Infection: Infection can make a wound larger and take longer to heal.
8. Diabetes: People with diabetes are likely to have wounds that won’t heal, which are also called long-term (chronic) wounds.
9. Heavy alcohol Use: Too much alcohol consumption can slow healing and increase the risk for infection and complications after surgery.
10. Smoking: Smoking can delay healing after surgery. It also increases the risk for complications such as infection and wounds breaking open.
11. Poor Blood Flow: Low Blood flow due to clogged arteries (arteriosclerosis) or conditions such as varicose veins.
- For minor wounds, clean your wound with gentle soap and water. Cover the wound with a sterile bandage or other dressing.
- For major wounds, follow your health care provider’s instructions on how to care for your injury.
- Avoid picking at or scratching the scab. This can interfere with healing and cause scarring.
- Once the scar forms, some people think it helps to massage it with vitamin E or petroleum jelly. However, this is not proven to help prevent a scar or help it fade. Do not rub your scar or apply anything to it without talking with your provider first.
How Medrocs Pharmacy can help you ?
With your prescription order, Medrocs Pharmacy can formulate a compound to contain the proper combination of active ingredients, in the most appropriate base, to treat a specific type of wound. We customize medications to meet each individual’s specific needs.
Knowledge and understanding of wounds, tissue and healing have grown rapidly over the past 40 years, resulting in a major change in the method of wound management. There has been a growing awareness that traditional dry wound-care products may actually delay healing.