Foam, film or fabric? Dressing types compared
Four common constructions, what each is good at, and where each falls down.
Most confusion at the shelf comes from not knowing what the categories mean. Here they are, in terms of what they do.
Fabric and non-woven adhesive dressings
The everyday option. An absorbent pad on an adhesive backing. Breathable, conformable, inexpensive. Limited absorbency, and not waterproof unless stated.
Film-backed dressings
A waterproof outer film. Good for showering and for keeping dirt out. Restricts vapour escape, so on a wet wound they can macerate surrounding skin.
Foam dressings
A foam core that absorbs a lot and cushions. Best for wounds producing fluid and for areas taking pressure. More expensive, and overkill on a dry graze.
Silicone-faced dressings
Any of the above, with a silicone contact layer or border. The advantage is atraumatic removal. Worth it on fragile skin, on wounds needing frequent changes, and where a pad keeps sticking.
Choosing quickly
Dry and shallow, standard fabric. Wet, foam. Fragile skin, silicone. Needs to survive water, film-backed.
See a pharmacist, GP or urgent care if a wound will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, is deep or gaping, was caused by something dirty or rusty, contains anything you cannot flush out, or shows spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever. Get help urgently for animal or human bites, wounds over a joint, and any wound in someone with diabetes or poor circulation.
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FitMedix products are CE-marked medical devices intended for the care of minor wounds. This site does not provide medical advice — seek professional help for deep, dirty or non-healing wounds, or if signs of infection appear. Always read the instructions on the pack.