Pharmacists Educate Patients and Reduce Anxiety in Overwhelming Wound-Care Aisles

Rows of bandages, gauze pads, antiseptic sprays, burn gels, hydrocolloid dressings, and antibiotic ointments promise faster healing, better protection, and fewer scars. But for many patients, the sheer number of choices creates more confusion than clarity. They pick up 2 similar products, compare prices, scan marketing claims—and often assume the more expensive option must be the better one.

That’s where community pharmacists step in.

In this interview, Nadia Maqbool Ahmad, PharmD, District Engagement Lead Pharmacist at Walgreens, explains how a simple, evidence-based approach can cut through the noise. Rather than steering patients toward specific brands or high-priced products, she starts with the fundamentals of wound healing. Once patients understand these basic principles, the overwhelming wall of products suddenly becomes more manageable.

Her message challenges several common misconceptions that persist despite decades of modern wound-care research. Leaving a wound open to the air is still widely believed to speed healing, even though most minor wounds actually heal better when kept covered and moist. Many consumers also assume that every cut or scrape needs an antibiotic ointment, a habit that can lead to unnecessary irritation and sensitivity.

Community pharmacists, accessible without an appointment and embedded in neighborhoods across the country, are uniquely positioned to correct these myths in real time. By focusing on appropriate cleaning, simple dressings, and realistic expectations, they help patients realize that effective wound care doesn’t have to be complicated—or expensive. Often, a basic bandage and a brief conversation are enough to turn confusion into confidence.

READ MORE: Wound Care Resource Center

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