Discharge Instructions: Caring for Your Transcyte Dressing

You are going home with a Transcyte dressing. This is used to cover a second- or third-degree burn. This type of dressing reduces your need for dressing changes. It will stay in place until your wound is healed. You can do most of your normal activities with the Transcyte in place. But you can’t take a bath or submerge it in water. Here's what you need to know.

What to expect

• The dressing is clear (transparent).

• As your skin heals, the Transcyte dressing will get crusty. It may itch.

• About 7 to 14 days after the dressing was placed, it will start to lift off at the edges.

Wound care

• Don’t remove the gauze bandage over the Transcyte dressing for 24 to 72 hours after it's put in place.

• Limit your activity of the area where the Transcyte dressing is placed for the next 48 hours to help it to adhere.

• Once the gauze is removed, you can return to most of your normal activities.

• Shower daily, but don’t soak in a tub:

  • Use a separate washcloth to gently wash the Transcyte. Don’t scrub it.

  • Rinse the dressing well.

  • Dry yourself and pat the Transcyte dry with a separate towel. Use a hair dryer set on cool to dry the Transcyte if you wish.

• Check the wound for signs of infection, like redness, swelling, fluid leaking, or a bad smell.

• As the Transcyte begins to lift up and your wound starts to heal, trim off the loose edges of the dressing. Use clean scissors that you have wiped off with an alcohol swab. Stop trimming if it's painful or if it causes bleeding.

• Apply lotion or moisturizing cream to the areas where you have trimmed off the Transcyte.

• Don't cover Transcyte with other dressings. You don’t have to worry that it will fall off.

Follow-up

Make a follow-up appointment, or as directed by your healthcare provider.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these:

• More redness, swelling, or warmth in the skin around the wound

• Fluid buildup under the Transcyte

• Bad smell coming from the wound

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider

• Chills

• Increasing pain

• Bleeding