The effect of occlusive dressings on re-epithelializations of wounds in children with epidermolysis bullosa.

Hydrocolloid dressing (HCD), a new oxygen impermeable occlusive dressing, was studied in a controlled clinical trial of three pediatric patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). Advantages of this material over such dressings as paraffin gauze (PG) or the perforated plastic film (TELFA), include considerably faster re-epithelialization, pain free movement of the injured part and fewer dressing changes. The most significant advantage of HCD for RDEB patients has been in the reduction of scar tissue formation, because in this disease, wounds heal with scarring that causes mutilating deformities.