A hypertonic salt water soak is a gauze that has been saturated with extra salty water.
Hypertonic salt water soaks can help reduce redness or swelling at the stoma, or if there is granulation tissue. Granulation tissue is bumpy or swollen tissue that is wet and often bleeds easily. It can also be painful. Applying hypertonic salt water soaks to granulation tissue might help it heal.
The extra salt in a hypertonic salt water soak helps to pull moisture away from the tissue, dry the skin, and reduce the swelling and redness. This is the first step to prevent or treat granulation tissue.
Some people refer to these as “saline soaks,” but this is not correct. Saline solution is not salty enough to treat granulation tissue. If you see saline in a store for purchase, do not buy or use it to treat granulation tissue; it does not have the correct salt concentration.