Top 12 must-have topical wound dressings

90% water in a gel base. Useful for adding moisture to the wound bed, softening/debriding necrotic tissue and for maintaining a moist wound bed.

Dressings with calcium and sodium fibers made from seaweed that absorb drainage and form a gel in the wound bed. Used to control moderate-to-heavy wound drainage, keeps the wound bed moist and assists with debridement.

Dressings made from polyurethane foam with small open cells capable of holding fluids. Used to control scant to small amount of wound drainage, keeps the wound bed moist, assists with debridement of necrotic tissue, provides insulation, and may be left in place 3–7 days.

With an adhesive border that helps keep the dressing in place and ensures the wound bed is kept moist, assists with debridement of necrotic tissue, provides insulation, and may be left in place for 3–7 days.

Wafer dressing containing gel-forming agents in an adhesive compound laminated onto a flexible water resistant outer layer. Used to protect wounds from urinary or fecal contamination, protects intact skin, keeps the wound bed moist, assists with debridement of necrotic tissue, provides insulation, and may be left in place for 3–7 days.