The Effects of Water on Bandages

Unless a bandage is waterproof, it should be kept as dry as possible.man with sprained ankle image by Joann Cooper from Fotolia.com

Bandages come in various shapes, sizes and materials, depending on their purpose. Despite the variety, it is almost always the case that a bandage should be kept as dry as possible. Unless the bandage is marketed as waterproof, its ability to function properly will almost certainly decrease with exposure to water or other types of moisture.

Weakens Adhesive

If the bandage uses some sort of sticky adhesive to attach to the body, water and moisture will likely weaken its stickiness. A bandage that loses its adhesive will no longer be able to stick to the skin and cover the wound properly. This is why abandoned adhesive bandages floating in swimming pools are a common sight.

For hardbound bandages such as casts, water softens the plaster shell, causing the bandage to morph shapes. The purpose of a cast-style bandage is to hold a bone in place, therefore any damage to its structure can allow bone movement. If a cast does experience water damage, it should be replaced as soon as possible.

If a soft or hard bandage experiences moisture and is not dealt with quickly, the skin underneath the bandage can become irritated. The cotton interior of a cast dries very slowly. This sustained exposure to moisture combined with a lack of airflow can cause a rash to form.