Start with the plan in writing

Changing a wound dressing at home is something a clinician or nurse teaches you for your specific wound. This guide does not replace that teaching. It helps you prepare so you can follow your instructions the same way every time.

Ask for the plan in writing, and keep it with your supplies. It should tell you:

  • The name of each product and the order the layers go on
  • How often to change the dressing
  • What to clean the wound with, if anything
  • What to do if the dressing comes off, leaks or gets wet early
  • Which changes to report, and the phone number to call

If any step is unclear, ask to be shown again at the next visit. Our guide to types of wound dressings explains the names you may see on the packages.

Set up a clean space first

Most problems during a change come from stopping halfway to find something. Get everything ready before the old dressing comes off.

  1. Choose a comfortable spot with good light.
  2. Wipe a table or tray clean and let it dry.
  3. Keep animals out of the room. See our guide to pets and wound care.
  4. Lay out each item in the order you will use it.
  5. Check that every package is sealed, dry and within its date.
  6. Open a trash bag within reach, and leave sterile packages closed until you need them.

If dressing changes hurt, tell the treating clinician. Planning for pain and comfort is part of wound care.

Clean hands at the right moments

Clean hands are one of the most important parts of a dressing change. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and dry with a clean towel:

  • Before you touch any supplies
  • After the old dressing is off and in the trash
  • After you finish and clean up

Wear gloves if you were taught to, and put on a fresh pair after removing the old dressing. Try not to touch the side of a dressing that will face the wound, and do not blow on the wound or the dressing.

Follow your steps without shortcuts or extras

Do each step in the order you were taught. A few general rules apply to almost every plan:

  • Use only the products that were ordered. Do not add creams, powders, home remedies or supplies left over from another wound.
  • Clean the wound only with what you were told to use.
  • If the old dressing is stuck, do not pull hard. Follow the instructions you were given for this, or call.
  • If you were taught to pack the wound, follow the counting method you were shown and call if anything seems to be missing.

A wound VAC or compression wrap should be changed only by people trained to do so.

Look, note and clean up

A dressing change is also your best view of the wound. Before the new dressing goes on, notice:

  • Whether the wound looks larger, smaller or about the same
  • The color of the wound bed and of the skin around it
  • How much drainage was on the old dressing, and its color
  • Any odor that remains after cleaning

Write the date, time and what you saw in a wound care visit notebook. Used dressings usually go in a sealed plastic bag in the household trash, but ask whether anything you use needs different handling. Wipe the surface and wash your hands again.

When to stop and call instead

Call the treating clinician or the wound care team before going further if:

  • A supply is missing or the product looks different from last time. Do not substitute. Our guide to organizing wound supplies at home can help prevent this.
  • You see signs of wound infection: spreading redness, warmth, swelling, thick or foul drainage, fever or chills.
  • The wound is noticeably larger or deeper, has new black tissue, or the edges of a post-surgical wound have come apart.
  • You feel unsure or unable to do the change safely today.

Call 911 for an emergency, such as bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure, fever with confusion, chest pain or trouble breathing.

How Gateway supports changes between visits

Gateway arranges wound visits with partner clinicians across Greater St. Louis and the Metro East, and coordinates the supplies and communication around the treating clinician’s orders for dressing selection and changes.

If home changes are not going well, say so. To ask about visits, request care or call 314-325-0126.

Common questions

Do I need sterile gloves to change a dressing at home?

That depends on your orders. Many home dressing changes are done with what clinicians call clean technique, meaning well-washed hands and clean disposable gloves. Some wounds and procedures call for sterile supplies. Ask which applies to you and have it written into your plan.

What should I do if the dressing falls off before the next change is due?

Check your written plan first, since many include instructions for this. If yours does not, call the care team and ask. While you wait, keep the area clean and avoid touching the wound. Report a dressing that keeps coming loose, because the product, size or the way it is secured may need to change.

What if I cannot reach my wound to change the dressing?

Say so before you try. Wounds on the back, heel or tailbone are hard to manage alone. The care team can teach a family member, ask whether home health nursing fits, or adjust the plan so changes happen at visits.

Is changing the dressing more often better?

Not usually. How often a dressing is changed is part of the order, and some dressings are designed to stay in place for several days. Extra changes can disturb the wound and use up supplies early. If drainage soaks through or the dressing will not stay on, call instead of adding changes on your own.

Related pages

General information to help you talk with your own clinician. It is not medical advice, and the treating clinician makes every clinical decision. For a medical emergency, call 911.

Updated October 2026