Mepilex is a soft silicone foam dressing made by Mölnlycke Health Care, designed to absorb wound fluid while sticking gently to surrounding skin without adhering to the wound itself. This makes dressing changes significantly less painful compared to traditional gauze, and it protects the healing tissue underneath from being torn away each time the dressing is replaced. Mepilex comes in several variations tailored to different wound types, from burns and surgical sites to chronic ulcers and pressure injuries.
How the Silicone Layer Works
The defining feature of Mepilex dressings is a technology called Safetac, which uses soft silicone as the wound contact layer. This silicone adheres readily to intact, dry skin around the wound but does not stick to the moist wound bed itself. When you peel the dressing off, it lifts away cleanly without stripping the skin or damaging the fragile new tissue growing at the wound’s edges.
This silicone layer also forms a seal between the dressing and the intact skin surrounding the wound. That seal blocks wound fluid from migrating sideways onto healthy skin, which prevents maceration (the white, soggy breakdown of skin that happens when tissue stays too wet for too long). In clinical trials comparing soft silicone foam dressings to standard alternatives, patients experienced lower pain levels both before and during dressing changes, along with less maceration around the wound.
What’s Inside the Foam
Beneath the silicone contact layer sits an absorbent foam core, typically made from semi-permeable polyurethane. This foam pulls wound fluid (exudate) away from the wound surface and locks it in, keeping the environment moist enough to support healing without becoming waterlogged. Mepilex dressings can absorb roughly 10 times their weight in fluid.
The outer layer is a thin, semi-permeable film that lets water vapor escape while blocking bacteria and external contaminants. Some versions, like Mepilex Border, are fully self-adherent with a built-in border, so no additional tape or bandage is needed. Others require secondary fixation like a wrap or medical tape to hold them in place.
Types of Mepilex Dressings
The Mepilex family includes several products, each designed for a specific situation:
- Mepilex: The standard absorbent foam for moderately draining wounds. Requires tape or a secondary bandage to stay in place.
- Mepilex Border: A self-adherent version with a built-in adhesive border, so it stays put on its own. Available in multiple shapes and sizes.
- Mepilex Border Flex: A five-layer version engineered for areas that move a lot, like joints. Contains superabsorbent fibers for heavier drainage.
- Mepilex Border Sacrum and Heel: Anatomically shaped dressings designed specifically for pressure ulcer prevention on the sacrum (lower back) and heels.
- Mepilex Ag: Contains silver, which provides antimicrobial protection for wounds at risk of infection or already showing signs of it.
- Mepilex Transfer: A thinner dressing that moves exudate through to a secondary absorbent layer rather than storing it, useful when frequent wound monitoring is needed.
What Wounds Mepilex Is Used For
Mepilex dressings cover a wide range of acute and chronic wounds. They are commonly used on pressure ulcers (bedsores), leg and foot ulcers, diabetic foot wounds, burns, surgical incisions, and traumatic wounds like skin tears. The standard foam versions work well for wounds with moderate to heavy drainage, while the silver version (Mepilex Ag) is chosen when infection is a concern.
For pressure ulcer prevention specifically, the sacrum and heel versions are used in hospitals on patients at high risk, such as those with limited mobility in intensive care or post-surgery. These dressings reduce friction between the skin and bed surfaces, prevent stretching or tearing of the skin, and absorb moisture. They are used alongside standard prevention measures like repositioning every four to six hours and using specialized foam mattresses.
How the Silver Version Fights Infection
Mepilex Ag contains silver ions that activate when they come into contact with wound fluid. The antimicrobial effect kicks in rapidly, within about 30 minutes, and is sustained for up to seven days. It is effective against a broad range of wound pathogens, including MRSA, which is a common concern in chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers.
The silver version should not be used together with oxidizing agents like hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorite solutions, as these can interfere with the dressing’s materials. It also needs to be removed before radiation therapy if it covers the treatment area.
Applying and Changing the Dressing
Application is straightforward. After cleaning the wound per your care team’s instructions, you peel the protective liner off the silicone side and place the dressing directly over the wound, making sure it extends at least one to two centimeters beyond the wound edges onto intact skin. For self-adherent versions like Mepilex Border, you smooth down the adhesive border and it holds itself in place. For the standard Mepilex without a border, you secure it with tape or a wrap.
Mepilex dressings can stay in place for up to seven days, depending on how much the wound is draining. If the dressing becomes saturated or starts to leak before seven days, it needs to be changed sooner. One practical advantage of the silicone adhesion is that the dressing can be lifted and repositioned during wound checks without losing its ability to stick, so you don’t necessarily waste a dressing every time someone needs to inspect the wound.
Who Should Not Use Mepilex
Mepilex dressings are contraindicated for anyone with a known allergy to any of the dressing’s components. The silver version carries the additional precaution of avoiding contact with oxidizing wound cleansers. For dry or necrotic wounds that produce little to no fluid, standard Mepilex foam may not perform optimally on its own, though it can be combined with hydrogels to add moisture to the wound bed.
The silicone adhesion relies on contact with intact skin around the wound, so dressings may not adhere well on very hairy skin or skin that is oily or heavily moisturized. In those cases, gentle skin preparation or clipping of hair around the wound site helps the dressing seal properly.