Kathleen: My first question would be to ask whether there are any necrotic tissues remaining around the excised abscess area? If so, I would NOT go the hydrogel route until these are clear. Given that you said the exudate is serous, I'll assume that means the infection has been successfully cleared. In this size wound, if infection is gone, I've found the best management is to cover it with hydrogel and leave it alone as long as the exudate is not floating the hydrogel off it (which frequently happens until the wound is very small). The problem with the iodophor is that it is disrupting the new cellular growth lining the wound and you or she are ripping the new cells out regularly in the name of cleaning (not your fault, it's what we were taught). In addition to changing the routine, there is significant evidence that 200 mg of zinc has exceptional ability to heal wounds of this kind (see the burn lit). As soon as the wound starts to granulate (fill in), I would start using a product like Lansinoh on it and have it remain clean and covered in between showerings. Once they start to close, it's only a matter of a day or two. Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC [log in to unmask] mom, wife, educator, lactation consultant, researcher, scientist, author, organic gardener, photographer, lapidary creator, lousy cleaner. *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html