Compression bandage system

1. A compression bandaging system comprising:

a) an inner skin facing, elongated, elastic bandage having inner and outer faces and comprising:

(i) an elongated, elastic substrate having first and second faces, the second face comprising a self-adhering material, and

(ii) an elongated layer of foam, said foam layer being affixed to the first face of said substrate and extending 33% or more across said first face of substrate in transverse direction and 67% or more across said first face of substrate in longitudinal direction, the foam layer having an exposed face not affixed to the first face of said substrate and not comprising a self-adhering material,

the inner face of the inner bandage comprising the exposed face of the foam layer, and the outer face of the inner bandage comprising the second face of the elongated, elastic substrate; and

b) an outer, elongated, self-adhering elastic bandage; said bandage having a compressive force when extended;

wherein, in use, said outer bandage overlies the inner bandage, and said inner face of the inner bandage faces the skin, and the outer face of the inner bandage faces said outer bandage, wherein the inner and outer bandages are configured and adapted such that in use said bandages remain adhered to one another under elastic extension without the use of a fastening mechanism, and wherein the bandaging system is free of any additional elongated bandages.

2. A bandaging system according to claim 1 , further comprising a non-elongated wound dressing or plaster.

3. A bandaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the outer bandage has a stretch capability of 75% at most in the longitudinal direction.

4. A bandaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the outer bandage has a recovery-of-stretch capability of at least 85% in the longitudinal direction.

5. A bandaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the outer bandage does not adhere to clothing, hair or skin.

6. A bandaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic substrate of the inner bandage is made of a material which is capable of exerting a compressive force when extended.

7. A bandaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the inner bandage has a stretch capability of less than 75% in the longitudinal direction.

8. A bandaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the inner bandage has a recovery-of-stretch capability of at least 80% in the longitudinal direction.

9. A bandaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the foam layer extends 80% or more across the face of the substrate in the longitudinal direction.

10. A bandaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the foam layer extends 50% or more across the face of the substrate in the transverse direction.

11. A bandaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the foam layer has a thickness greater than 1.6 mm.

12. A compression bandaging system comprising:

a) an inner skin facing, elongated, elastic bandage having inner and outer faces and comprising:

(i) an elongated, elastic substrate having first and second faces, the second face comprising a self-adhering material, and

(ii) an elongated layer of foam, said foam layer being affixed to the first face of said substrate and extending 33% or more across said first face of substrate in transverse direction and 67% or more across said first face of substrate in longitudinal direction, the foam layer having an exposed face not affixed to the first face of said substrate and not comprising a self-adhering material,

the inner face of the inner bandage comprising the exposed face of the foam layer, and the outer face of the inner bandage comprising the second face of the elongated, elastic substrate; and

b) an outer, elongated, self-adhering elastic bandage; said bandage having a compressive force when extended;

wherein, in use, said outer bandage overlies the inner bandage, and said inner face of the inner bandage faces the skin, and the outer face of the inner bandage faces said outer bandage, wherein the inner and outer bandages are configured and adapted such that in use said bandages remain adhered to one another under elastic extension without the use of a fastening mechanism, and wherein the bandaging system is free of any additional elongated bandages, and the inner bandage when extended provides less compression than the outer bandage when extended.