Should You Let Slough Dry Out? Moisture Balance in Wound Management
Should I let slough dry out?
The Quick Answer
No—**drying slough worsens outcomes**. Dry, adherent slough becomes harder to remove and further impedes healing. Modern wound care requires *moist* wound healing: rehydrating dry slough with hydrogels or moisture-donating dressings to facilitate autolytic debridement, while controlling excess exudate with absorptive layers to prevent maceration.
Why We Ask This
Well-intentioned patients often air-dry wounds or use drying agents like iodine, mistakenly believing 'drying kills germs,' which actually desiccates tissue and creates a barrier to cellular migration essential for repair.
The Practical Science
Moist environments increase collagenase activity and macrophage function by 50% compared to dry wounds, accelerating natural slough removal. The goal is balanced hydration—not wetness—that supports enzymatic debridement without compromising periwound skin.
In Clinical Practice
For dry slough on a heel ulcer, a clinician would apply a hydrogel sheet dressing overnight to rehydrate tissue, then gently cleanse the next morning when slough lifts easily—avoiding traumatic scrubbing that damages fragile new tissue.
References & Context
Wound Guide - Sloughy - Advancis Medical"Wounds should be desloughed to avoid infection, remove devitalised tissue and promote autolysis. The wound should be rehydrated and exudate controlled to prepare the wound bed for healing. As a guide, if the wound has dry adherent slough on the wound bed, a dressing that will donate moisture should be selected."