"pad"

Question

How do you say "pad" in Spanish, mostly I'm interested in medical uses of the word. Two specfic uses:
scar pad: (a special medicated pad placed over a scar to help it heal)
cotton pad
adhesive pad

Is it almohadilla'

Answer 1

In medical uses I think that you can say:

scar pad : compresa esterilizada (is placed over a scar to help it heal - es colocada sobre la cicatriz de una herida para ayudar a sanarla)

cotton pad: compresa de algodón

Answer 2

The two words used in medicine are usually "compresa" and "almohadilla"; the first one is used when some pressure is normally applied, and the second one when it is used to cushion or absorb. All the body tissues are normally translated as "almohadilla", and "compresa" is particularly used for perineal pads.

In those two particular cases I'd say "compresa" is more common, but I haven't been to a Spanish speaking hospital in over 10 years.