We’ve all been there: you’re doing sports, tackling a tricky bit of gardening or playing with the kids when an accidental cut or abrasion suddenly stops you in your tracks. Many of us make the mistake of simply stopping the bleeding and carrying on, thinking that a plaster will only get in the way and slow us down. Indeed, a lot of people believe that a wound will heal faster if it is just left uncovered and allowed to air.
However, any cut or graze that is left exposed – no matter how small – is vulnerable to infection if dirt and bacteria enter the wound. With the Elastoplast Fabric line, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: reliable protection from dirt and bacteria coupled with extra flexibility. This means you can carry on living life to the full, safe in the knowledge your wound is cared for and protected.
What’s so special about Elastoplast’s new Fabric range?
The Fabric range features a fabric backing material made up of tightly woven, flexible fibres with a hydrophobic finishing to enhance water repellence, meaning that water beads off the surface. Even with this improved water repellence, the extra-flexible plasters in the Elastoplast Fabric line now offer better breathability, allowing moisture to escape from the wound as the skin heals over.
Just like all Elastoplast Bacteria Shield plasters, the Fabric line provides effective protection against dirt and bacteria. Combined with their water-repellent qualities, Elastoplast Fabric plasters allow your body’s natural healing mechanisms to get to work unobstructed.
But that’s not all: their fabric backing stretches and adapts to your skin when you move. This makes Fabric plasters ideal for any small wounds on parts of the body in constant motion, such as your hands, knees and elbows. Elastoplast Fabric plasters deliver strong adhesion across an enlarged area, making sure that the plaster stays in place – while the non-stick wound pad effectively protects and cushions the wound. Our pre-cut Fabric plasters also feature rounded edges, which reduces unassisted peel-off.
But that’s not all: their fabric backing stretches and adapts to your skin when you move. This makes Fabric plasters ideal for any small wounds on parts of the body in constant motion, such as your hands, knees and elbows. Elastoplast Fabric plasters deliver strong adhesion across an enlarged area, making sure that the plaster stays in place – while the non-stick wound pad effectively protects and cushions the wound. Our pre-cut Fabric plasters also feature rounded edges, which reduces unassisted peel-off.
Countering common misconceptions and busting wound care myths
When it comes to caring for cuts and grazes , some nuggets of conventional wisdom passed down over the years that have come to be widely accepted – but do not measure up to closer examination using modern scientific methods. Let’s look at three prime examples:
- “That cut will heal better if you let it air”
The idea that a wound heals faster or better when left uncovered is certainly widespread, but research has shown it to be incorrect. Applying a Elastoplast plaster keeps wounds covered and protected against dirt and bacteria, which helps to protect against infection.
You could also apply a Elastoplast Fast Healing wound dressing or use Elastoplast Wound Healing Ointment, both of which keep wounds moist – something that has been shown to accelerate the healing process, keep wounds supple and reduce scarring.
- “Don’t worry about that graze: just let kids be kids”
There is evidence suggesting children who spend more time outdoors are more likely to develop a strong immune system. However, simply allowing bacteria to enter an open wound by leaving it uncovered is another thing entirely.
If bacteria find their way into a wound, they can trigger an infection that hinders the natural healing process. Plus, if that infection spreads, it can cause serious health consequences. Elastoplast Fabric plasters, on the other hand, are stretchable and flexible, meaning they provide adaptable and durable protection.
- “Plasters are uncomfortable and only get in the way”
Some plasters are made from materials that are relatively inflexible and offer poor adhesion, which can make them seem ungainly and ineffective. However, the Elastoplast Fabric range is made from a highly flexible material that flexes and adapts to your skin as it moves. This means you can go about your daily life uninterrupted while still enjoying safe wound care and protection.
Claims backed up by science and research
The innovations and significant improvements in our Fabric line, in particular its improved water-repellent properties, are the result of years of research and development. Creating an even better fabric for our plaster strips, applying an improved hydrophobic finishing and providing better all-round adhesion were key focuses of this work.
In addition to rigorous testing, we have also conducted consumer research to validate our claims. In 2018, the consumers we surveyed agreed that protection against dirt and bacteria had improved by 18%, water repellence by 25% and adhesion by 22%. The improvement was verified in 2018 by consumers using our plasters, who confirmed that ‘protection against dirt & bacteria’ has improved by 16%, water repellence by 25% and adhesion by 22%. This is emphatic confirmation that our product development work has been wholly worthwhile and yielded effective, significant results.
In addition to rigorous testing, we have also conducted consumer research to validate our claims. In 2018, the consumers we surveyed agreed that protection against dirt and bacteria had improved by 18%, water repellence by 25% and adhesion by 22%. The improvement was verified in 2018 by consumers using our plasters, who confirmed that ‘protection against dirt & bacteria’ has improved by 16%, water repellence by 25% and adhesion by 22%. This is emphatic confirmation that our product development work has been wholly worthwhile and yielded effective, significant results.
