Pressure Garments

Normal, undamaged skin is made of a layer of collagen fibers that lie underneath the skin, parallel to the skins’ surface. The skin applies pressure against these underlying layers, allowing the skin to remain flat and smooth. When a minor injury occurs the pressure that the skin puts on the body helps the injured skin heal back to its original state without scarring.

When a child is severely burned, the skin and the underlying collagen layers are destroyed. Pressure garments help prevent the development of hypertrophic, or raised, scars, and keep scar tissue soft by applying pressure to the wounded area. Since scar tissue is very responsive in the early stages of formation it’s important to begin wearing pressure garments as soon as possible.

Using pressure to prevent scar formation can range from a full cloth body suit to a pliable plastic mask worn just over the face.

Wearing Pressure Garments

Proper fitting garments are critical to success, so each patient’s pressure garments will be measured individually. Garments that are too tight can cause numbness or tingling, or abrade the skin. Garments that are too large will not apply enough pressure to be effective.

Pressure garments may be worn for a little as a few months, to as long as two or three years depending on the severity of the burn and the area of the body that is affected. The garments are worn 23 hours a day, seven days a week, and are removed only for bathing and if they interfere with therapy. In most cases it’s a good idea to have two sets of garments on hand so that a clean set is always available for wear.

If pressure garments are part of your child’s burn therapy, your doctor will give you specific and personalized instructions about how to wear them and how long to wear them.