INDICATIONS and
contraindication
INDICATIONS


ACUTE AND CHRONIC WOUNDS WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO:
- ensure the removal of necrotic tissue, impurities, and microbes
- establish an optimal moist environment and temperature
- relieve inflammation
- reduce oedema and pain
- manage the bacterial load
- promote the formation of new tissue
Vivamel dressings have this ability to adapt to the needs of the wound, so they can be used to achieve different healing goals.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT VIVAMEL WOUND DRESSING?
Wound dressings differ from each other in the function and absorbency of the carrier material and the amount of medical chestnut honey.

MEDICAL CHESTNUT HONEY – SAFE USE
- When applied to the wound, medical chestnut honey DOES NOT AFFECT blood sugar levels.
- Safe to use at all ages, including in infants.
- All Vivamel dressings may reach OVER THE EDGES OF THE WOUND. Medical chestnut honey protects the skin.
- Before using Vivamel dressings, read the INSTRUCTIONS carefully and consult your doctor or pharmacist.
CONTRAINDICATION
Vivamel wound dressings are contraindicated in patients with honey allergy. Although allergic reactions to honey are not common, people with honey allergy are advised against the use of Vivamel products.
PRECAUTION
When using Vivamel wound dressings, caution should be exercised in people with a bee sting allergy.
APPLICATION OF VIVAMEL WOUND DRESSINGS
Vivamel dressings are easy to handle and apply.
HOW TO APPLY VIVAMEL DRESSINGS
Before applying the dressing, it is necessary to adequately clean the wound. The previous dressing, dead tissue, and impurities should be removed from the wound.
Rinse the wound under warm running water of drinking quality or saline solution. Gently dry the area around the wound and start applying a new dressing. In the packaging, Vivamel dressings are placed between two protective foils that enable cutting the dressing in the shape and size of the wound if necessary. Remove both foils from the dressing. Apply the Vivamel dressing (alginat, contact, protect) so that it is completely covers the wound. It can also stretch over the edges, as honey offers protection to the area around the wound. Cover the dressing with an absorbent secondary dressing and secure it with a bandage or a plaster.
Always open the Vivamel tube in an upright position with the cap facing up. Apply medical honey from a tube to the sterile pad of a plaster or other primary absorbent dressing, e.g., non-woven compress or polyurethane foam. Honey from the tube can also be applied directly to the wound, which is convenient especially for deep and pocket wounds.
FREQUENT DRESSING CHANGES
At the beginning of the treatment, we recommend dressing changes every two days, and later every three to four days. In the case of heavy exudate, dressing should be changed daily since with a greater amount of exudate honey wears out faster. When the exudate is weaker, choose a less absorbent dressing or reduce the frequency of dressing changes.

POSSIBLE PAIN AND HOW TO RELIEVE IT
When using medical chestnut honey for wound treatment, two aspects of pain need to be addressed:
- pain caused by inflammation (some wounds are very painful) and
- possible pain due to osmotic pressure.
PAIN CAUSED BY INFLAMMATION is present regardless of the type of the dressing applied to the wound. The main reason is inflammation, which results in swelling (oedema) and increased sensitivity of the nerve endings. The high concentration of free radicals formed during the inflammation phase can also damage tissue and increase the level of pain.
The strategy for relieving pain is to remove dead non-vital tissue, soothe inflammation, and reduce the swelling (oedema). This will relieve the nerve endings and reduce the intensity of the pain.

A six-week study of venous lower leg ulcers at the Dermatovenerological Clinic in Ljubljana also included monitoring the level of pain using a visual analogue scale.
On average, patients initially rated pain at 8 and at the end of the treatment with Vivamel PROTECT, they rated pain at 3.
TRANSIENT PAIN DUE TO THE OSMOTIC ACTIVITY OF HONEY
A couple of minutes after the application of the wound dressing with honey, high osmotic activity can cause pain or a burning sensation (also described as stinging and tingling) that lasts as long as the pull of fluids (osmotic activity) is intense.
Due to Vivamel’s anti-inflammatory effect, the pain usually wears off from one dressing change to the next one. If the pain persists, consult your doctor or pharmacist about pain therapy.

Pain is transient and:
- it usually subsides in a few minutes but can sometimes persist for two to three hours;
- honey effectively cleanes the wound, reduces inflammation and oedema, and consequently reduces pain with each dressing change.
PAIN MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
In case of pain AFTER THE APPLICATION OF HONEY:
- understanding the osmotic effect (mental preparation),
- awareness that potential pain is transient and short-term,
- gradual application of honey: at first, apply wound dressings with honey only to a few spots in the wound – with each dressing change, increase the number and size of these spots, gradually increasing the covered surface of the wound until the whole wound is covered eventually,
- pain therapy (we recommend consulting a doctor or pharmacist).
