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Our skin changes as we grow older. At birth our skin is thin, and it gradually thickens as we move into adulthood. Then as we get older, the texture changes and our skin becomes thinner, weaker and less protective.

Maceration
Ongoing contact with excessive moisture softens the skin, turns it white and causes it to breakdown. Exudate leaked from ulcers can also cause maceration, leading to larger ulcers or satellite ulcers.

Erythema
Erythema is an abnormal redness of the skin caused by dilation of blood vessels. Redness of the peri-ulcer skin may be a sign of inflammation or wound infection.

Fragile skin
If a wound is surrounded by fragile skin, dressings are more likely to cause skin irritation. You must examine the skin carefully before deciding to use either an adhesive or a non-adhesive dressing.

Choice of dressing
To avoid leakage and maceration, it’s important to choose a moist wound dressing for optimal exudate management. Available in adhesive as well as non-adhesive versions, the Biatain range provides superior exudate management for exuding wounds.

Read more about choosing the optimal wound dressing.