Squeeze the saline from the gauze pads or packing tape until the leaking stops. Apply gauze pads or packing tape to the wound. Fill up the wound and any crevices under the skin with care. A big dry dressing pad should be used to cover the damp gauze or packing tape. Change the dressing regularly. Moist wound dressings help reduce pain by preventing tissue damage from drying out. They also help prevent infection by keeping dirt and bacteria off the wound surface. Some examples of moist wound dressings are: hydrocolloids, hydrogels, foam dressings, and spray-on dressings. Making your own moist wound dressings is easy. Just follow these steps: 1 Choose an appropriate material for the wound. Cotton works for shallow wounds that don't go deep into the muscle. Synthetic materials such as polyester work for deeper wounds or injuries that go into the muscle. Natural materials such as cotton or linen work best if you plan to clean the wound properly before applying the dressing. 2 Soak the material in water until it becomes moist but not wet. 3 Add any other ingredients called for in the instructions for the specific type of dressing. 4 Dress the wound according to the instructions that come with the product. 5 Remove excess moisture from the wound at least once daily. Use sterile technique when cleaning wounds. If you follow these steps, you have just made your own moist wound dressing.