Types of Unna boot dressing

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Unna boots are pretty useful in healing leg wounds like sores, edema and ulcers. It is compression gauze and contains zinc oxide paste. The zinc oxide paste and the compressing nature of the dressing facilitates in healing the wound. The boot is best suited for people who have an active lifestyle as the boot works when there is movement of the calf muscle. Thus, for people who want an easy fix to ulcers, sores and edema without affecting their daily routines then Unna’s boot would be the best choice.

Here are some of the most used and famous Unna boot dressing available in the market. Some of them are cheaper while others are more comfortable and you must make the choice after understanding which dressing would be the most suited for your injury.

  1. Primer Unna boot dressingPrimer Unna boot dressing
    The dressing of primer Unna boot is quite well-known and is used by a lot of people to treat burns, edema and various strains and sprains. The zinc oxide paste is uniformly coated over the dressing which keeps the dressing comfortable while keeping the dressing neither too soft nor too hard. The best thing about it is that it has very finished edges and thus, no threads at the end of the boot really interfere with the treatment and healing.This dressing also comes with calamine which is a useful ingredient to prevent itching. However, the dressing with calamine is more expensive as compared to the one which doesn’t have calamine.

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  2. Gelocast Unna boot dressing
    Gelocast unna bootGelocast Unna boot is the most famous of all Unna’s boots and are quite popular amongst the masses. They are the most used and also have the best customer reviews. The quality of this dressing lies in the fact that there is a calamine and zinc oxide combination which is applied uniformly over the dressing. Thus, the boot is really quick in healing sores and ulcers while the itch-free nature of the boot keeps the person using it relaxed.The Gelocast Unna boot is cheaper relatively as compared to other dressings with calamine and can be found for just a bit more than the non-calamine dressings.

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  3. Tenderwrap Unna Boot
    If you are looking for an alternative dressing for Unna boot application then you must go for Tenderwrap Unna boot. They are flexible enough and you can easily walk and do all the daily chores even after the Tenderwrap Unna boot application. There is zinc oxide coating over the dressing in this boot as well. The best thing about this dressing is that it comes with calamine and can still be cheaper than most non-calamine dressings. However, you must understand that they are harder to find than other dressings present in the market.

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  4. Unna Flex elastic Unna bootUnna Flex elastic Unna boot
    Unna Flex elastic Unna boot is the most expensive dressing available in the market. It consists of a stretchable gauze with zinc oxide application and conforms perfectly to the shape of the leg. It is a great product but its higher price makes it not as popular. But as they say, you get what you pay for.

Lastly, before choosing any of the dressings, you must ensure that the Unna boot contraindications would not affect you. Thus, it’s best to consult the doctor about Unna boot contraindications before choosing your unna boot dressing.

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Unna Boot application

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Unna Boot application

Unna boot is named after Paul Gerson Unna who was a dermatologist. Unna boot is a special compression dressing gauze and is used in the treatment of edema, ulcers, sores etc. The bandaging is usually wrapped with zinc oxide which helps in healing the wound quickly. gelocast unna bootThe zinc oxide paste is better than the various other gelatins used in different dressings as it neither softens nor hardens the dressing.  It is important to note that glycerin and calamine lotion may also be present in Unna boots (ex. Gelocast Unna boot)

 

How to apply Unna boot?

Most people usually choose Unna boot to treat wounds which have light to moderate drainage like ulcers, sores and edema. However, most people don’t know about Unna boot application and apply it incorrectly rendering it useless. Here is the proper Unna boot application method.

  1. Clean your skin thoroughly using mineral oil. Don’t apply mineral oil over the wound.
  2. Position your foot at right angle to the leg.
  3. Now, start to firmly wrap the Unna boot dressing just above the toes. You must not excessively tighten the dressing.
  4. Continue to wrap the Unna boot dressing making sure that the heel is completely covered.
  5. Continue wrapping the leg with the dressing with each layer overlapping the other around 50%. Stop to wrap the dressing just below the knee.
  6. While wrapping the dressing, smoothen the dressing with your free hand along the way for better application.
  7. The dressing you applied was a paste bandage with glycerin, calamine lotion and zinc oxide uniformly coated over it.
  8. Now, coat the dressing with a soft Kling or Kerlex roll
  9. Lastly, after the dressing becomes dry and hard, wrap the elastic roll over the dressing in a figure eight pattern

An Unna Boot dressing may be kept on for about a week but no longer than that.

Unna boot applicationThis is the best way to apply Unna’s boot. However, you must understand that if any complications occur after applying it then your best option is to visit the doctor as soon as possible. You should report to the doctor or the nurse practitioner in case you feel any of the following after applying Unna’s boot.

  1. Numbness
  2. Change in the color toes
  3. Excessive swelling
  4. Excessive itching
  5. Pain
  6. Bad odor
  7. Drainage

Most complications only occur if the boot isn’t correctly applied and if you follow the right application procedure then you won’t have any problems.

Things to keep in mind before choosing Unna’s boot

Here are some of the things that you should keep in mind before choosing Unna boot for any wound in your leg. Firstly, similar to all other treatments, there are also some Unna boot contraindications and this means that the treatment may cause complications for some patients. The Unna boot contraindications include cellulitis, arterial insufficiency, pulmonary edema etc. So, if you suffer from any of these then using these boots isn’t advisable.

Moreover, boots like Gelocast Unna boots etc are not useful for bed-ridden or wheel-chaired patients as the dressing basically works by contracting the calf muscle inward and restricting its outward movement when a person walks. This increases venous circulation which helps in healing the wound. So, if you suffer from cellulitis, arterial insufficiency etc or are a bed-ridden or wheel-chaired patient then it’s better to use any other treatment method.

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What is an Unna Boot?

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Unna Boot, also known as Unna’s Boot is a compressed dressing which is usually made of cotton used to wrap around the legs for various treamtments. This dressing or bandage contains Zinc Oxide paste impregnated into the rolled gauzeunna boot which helps in treating burns and sores. There are quite a few types of Unna Boots available in the market. Some of them contain glycerin while others contain calamine lotion instead of the Zinc Oxide. However, the most common type of Unna Boot is the one containing a Zinc Oxide paste applied to the whole bandage. The zinc oxide present in the bandage aids the healing process and helps in keeping the affected area moist.

This dressing was made by a German dermatologist Paul Gerson Unna who was a specialist in diagnosing and treating skin related problems, this is why this bandage is named after him and is known as Unna’s Boot. As its name suggests this bandage is used for legs which can be wrapped easily around the ankle, calf or foot. People having any skin problems on their legs, calves or feet can make use of Unna’s Boot after consulting with their physicians.

What treatment is Unna Boot used for?

Usually an Unna Boot dressing is used for treating leg ulcers, edema and skin related problems of the leg and feet. Burns, cuts and other venous insufficiencies of the leg are some of the other ailments which can be treated by the use of these boots. Because an Unna boot applies a pressure of about 20-30mmHg on the skin which is why it is suitable for treating a number of skin related problems. Besides being used for the treatment of skin diseases the Unna Boots can be used as supportive bandages for sprains and strains of the lower leg, ankle and foot.

For the treatment of venous leg ulcers, a Gelocast Unna Boot is prescribed by the physicians. The Gelocast Unna Boot provides a firm pressure to the wound and contains a mixture of zinc oxide paste and calamine lotion in it. This type of dressing is much easier to apply and remove and does not decompose or dissolve easily.

The Unna Boot application should be done very carefully keeping in mind that the dressing should not be unna boot wrapapplied directly on to a continuously draining Ulcer. In case of a continuously draining ulcer always apply a foam pad before the Unna Boot application so that the drainage is soaked up by the foam and does not affect the bandage. Start wrapping the dressing in a circular fashion starting from the legs and stopping just below the knee. Make sure that there are no creases or wrinkles on the Unna boot when you are done wrapping it around the affected area. An Unna Boot dressing can be kept on for about a week but no longer than that.

The Unna Boot contraindications include that it cannot be used by people who have wounds having tunneling because for such wounds this type of dressing is not going to have any effect. Other Unna Boot contraindications are that they are less effective for people who are unable to move freely and are confined to a wheel-chair.

Here’s a video showing Unna Boot application

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