Wound care for facial ulcers can be challenging. The site of the ulcer; appearance; social factors; pain control; availability of wound dressings; amount of exudates and patient tolerance, all impact on the choice and combination of dressings. Ulcers on the face are often very difficult to dress for several reasons:

• Patients don’t want to see the ulcer;
• They want the ulcer to be ‘hidden’;
• At the same time they want to look reasonable for their family & visitors;
• Discrete dressings are the obvious choice…but what?;
• It is difficult to disguise ulcers as they get larger and deeper;
• Ulcers may be extremely painful;
• Ulcers may bleed;
• There may be exudates that require thick absorbent dressings;
• Bulky dressings can interfere with vision and eating;
• Even small dressings can interfere with eating and drinking;
• Dressings may become contaminated with food thus requiring more frequent changes.

This case study serves to give healthcare workers and / or families some ideas that may be helpful; nothing is set in stone. There is not one particular wound dressing for a facial ulcer and whatever combination of dressings you do choose please remember that pain control is an absolute priority.