Dressing

Dressings are applied to the skin for a number of reasons:

• protection of the intact skin;

• coverage of wounds;

• prevention of fusions.

A general principle in the application of dressings is to make sure the tape does not come into contact with the skin. The dressing should be secured differently. The wounds are often dressed with Elatomull Haft® or tubular bandage such as Tubigrip®, Tubifast®, Bandafix®, etcetera (see chapter Materials & Medication: Dressings). A common problem is how to obtain ample waste linen.

Waste linen is obtained by washing old (preferably white, cotton) sheets in 60° C and cutting them into strips. The linen is disposed of after use.

Clothing

Clothing can protect the skin of the EB-patient against bumping and rubbing, sunrays and heat and microbes. Cotton clothing is preferred. Cotton breathes more and prevents perspiration and therefore irritation of the skin. Clothing made of viscose or (rough) silk is also comfortable to wear. Clothing needs to be roomy in order to accommodate the patient's dressings. Clothing should not be tight and should be easy to put on and take off.

It is often more comfortable to wear dungarees or overalls than trousers or a skirt with an elastic or tight waistband. T-shirts and jerseys are preferably wide-necked (such as for example, a sports shirt) to prevent damage to the ears when pulling the t-shirt or jersey over the head.

Attention should be paid to seams and hems, zips, labels and rough edges. These may cause blisters. On vulnerable places, protective dressing material should be applied on or under the clothing.

Cutisorb® and Melolin® have proven their worth.

Contact with plastic or rubber on the skin should be avoided.

A cap can protect the face against the sun but it can also damage the forehead if it is too tight or too rough. The rough edges may be covered with for example, a piece of soft cotton or flannel.

Clothing for young children

In young children small mittens and socks can deter scratching. The advice is given to make a romper out of lint. The lint absorbs superfluous ointment that is put onto the skin and it hardly adheres to the wounds. The romper is worn with the seams inside out.