Innovative Wound Care: Rethinking Plasters and Wound Healing

Since the company’s inception over 140 years ago, Beiersdorf has revolutionized wound care and continuously advanced its products. From being the first plaster to feature a gauze pad in 1922 — making it suitable for open wounds — to pioneering elastic dressings in 1932 and introducing extra skin friendly options in the late 1960s, the Hansaplast brand has consistently set new standards in wound healing.

Plasters are everyday items we often take for granted, ready to protect us from childhood scrapes to kitchen mishaps. However, when it comes to treating minor wounds, many still believe that leaving them uncovered is the best way to heal. Contrary to popular belief, medical research has shown that moist wound environments heal faster and more effectively. But why do moist wounds heal faster?

In the following interview, Dr. med. Maike Kuhlmann, Head of Medical & Clinical Affairs Healthcare, and Núria Canal Paulí, Technology Manager at Beiersdorf, explain what makes an effective plaster, the benefits of moist wound healing, and why these innovations are key to enhancing recovery and minimizing scarring.

Núria Canal Paulí: While plasters might look simple, they are actually complex products with multiple components, each serving a distinct purpose. A high-quality plaster is composed of 4 elements: Backing, adhesive, wound pad, and release liner. Every component has a different but very specific function: The backing provides stability to the plaster and protects the wound from the environment. Depending on the material, it can bring additional properties such as waterproofness, breathability, and flexibility. At the same time, it is the carrier of the adhesive, which is responsible for providing reliable adhesion to skin. The wound pad is directly in contact with the wound and provides extra protection, cushioning and absorbs wound fluid, and should not stick to the wound. Finally, the release liner covers the wound pad and adhesive layer and is removed during the application of the plaster. 

After detailing its components and functions, a high-quality plaster could be described as: A plaster that protects against water, dirt, and bacteria, is flexible and adapts to your movements while providing a reliable and long-lasting adhesion to skin, for an undisturbed and optimal healing process. 

Dr. med. Maike Kuhlmann: When getting injured, we often expect that the wound will heal quickly and without leaving a mark. Many people think wounds will just heal on their own if left exposed to the air. However, wound healing is a complex process, and many factors can interfere, delaying the wound healing. 

When a wound is left uncovered or untreated the natural healing process starts, meaning blood clotting and the formation of a crust. It’s a clever way of our body to protect from blood loss and the outside but unfortunately, they are not the optimal conditions for wound healing. By forming a crust, the wound is drying out which makes it difficult for the newly formed cells to close the tissue gap. Moreover, the crust can easily break, potentially delaying healing, increasing the risk of infection as it enables dirt and bacteria to enter the wound, and raising the likelihood of scarring.

Dr. med. Maike Kuhlmann: Protecting wounds using principles of moist wound healing (e.g., with polyurethane or hydrocolloid dressings, special wound healing ointments) will support the natural healing process.  

Studies have shown that under moist conditions, cells grow, divide, and migrate at an increased rate, optimizing the wound healing process and thus reducing the likelihood of scarring¹. At the same time, crusts, which inhibit the formation of new tissue, are prevented. 

Dr. med. Maike Kuhlmann: It’s less about the size and more about the type and depth of the wound. Moist wound healing is already a well-established method in professional treatment, particularly for chronic, hard-to-heal wounds. However, it’s also highly effective for everyday injuries like abrasions, as it promotes tissue repair, speeds up the healing process, reduces the risk of scarring, and helps alleviate pain. 

Núria Canal Paulí: Yes, there are effective options available for creating a moist wound healing environment. Nowadays, technologies that promote moist healing are the gold standard in hospitals, though they are not yet as common in the average consumer’s medicine cabinet. At Health Care (Hansaplast, Elastoplast, Curitas) we’re committed to advancing moist wound healing and will soon introduce a product that brings hospital-level care to your home. Stay tuned for an exciting innovation that will make expert wound management more accessible than ever.

Thank you for this interview!

_{¹Nuutila K, Eriksson E. Moist Wound Healing with Commonly Available Dressings. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2021 Dec;10(12):685-698. doi: 10.1089/wound.2020.1232.}

Anne is responsible for our Pharmacy and Selective Brands within the Corporate Communications team. In this way she takes care of international communication projects of brands like Eucerin, Aquaphor, Hansaplast, La Prairie and Chantecaille.