Types of Wound Dressings: Foam, Hydrocolloid, Film, Alginate and Hydrogel Compared

Updated October 2026

Most wound dressings fall into six types: foam, hydrocolloid, transparent film, alginate, hydrogel and superabsorbent. The biggest deciding factor is how much the wound drains. Thin films and hydrocolloids suit wounds with little or no drainage, foams handle moderate drainage, and alginates and superabsorbents are for heavy drainage. The second factor is the skin around the wound: if it tears easily, choose a dressing with a silicone adhesive.

This guide explains each type in plain terms, names the products we carry in each, and lists the uses printed on each product’s label. It doesn’t replace a care plan. If a nurse or doctor has told you which dressing to use, follow their instructions.

Wound dressing types at a glance

You can browse every type in our wound dressings category.

Primary and secondary dressings

A primary dressing touches the wound. A secondary dressing goes on top to hold the primary one in place or absorb extra fluid. Some products can do both jobs. Others, such as alginates, hydrogels and most superabsorbents, need a cover dressing, tape or a wrap on top. Each product label says which role it is made for.

Transparent film dressings

A transparent film is a thin, clear, waterproof sheet with an adhesive back. You can see the skin through it without lifting it, and water and dirt stay out. Films hold almost no fluid, so they suit wounds that drain little or not at all.

• Suresite 123 is a plain film with a numbered 1-2-3 application system. Medline designs it mainly for covering IV and catheter sites.
• Suresite 123+ Pad adds an absorbent pad. Its label lists partial-thickness wounds, skin tears, lacerations, abrasions and IV sites, plus use as a secondary dressing over full-thickness wounds. The label says not to use it as the primary dressing on wounds with moderate or heavy drainage.
• OptiView has a clear cushioned center, called HydroCore, with a silicone face and border. It comes in a 6" multisite size and 7" and 9" sacrum sizes. Medline labels it for partial- and full-thickness wounds with low drainage, and the clear center lets a caregiver check the skin without removing it.
• Surefilm is the same kind of film on a roll, for cutting your own size.

Hydrocolloid dressings

A hydrocolloid is a thin, flexible wafer. The side that touches the wound reacts with wound fluid and forms a soft gel, which keeps the wound moist and lets the dressing lift off without sticking to it.

Medline Exuderm LP is a low-profile hydrocolloid in 4" and 6" squares. Its label covers dry to lightly draining wounds, including pressure injuries, leg ulcers, lacerations, abrasions and first- and second-degree burns, with wear of up to 7 days. It is translucent, so you can see roughly what is underneath.

Foam vs hydrocolloid comes down to drainage. A hydrocolloid suits a wound with little fluid and holds very little more. A foam absorbs much more, so it is the usual choice once a wound drains.

Hydrogel

Hydrogel is a clear, water-based gel that adds moisture to a wound that is too dry. It goes on the wound and needs a cover dressing on top, such as a foam, a film or a non-stick pad.

Medline Skintegrity ECO Hydrogel comes in a 4 oz tube and contains glycerin. Its label lists dry to moist clean wounds: pressure and stasis ulcers, first- and second-degree burns, cuts and skin irritations. It is not for third-degree burns. Clean the wound first; our wound cleansers include Skintegrity’s.

Foam dressings

Foam dressings are soft polyurethane pads that absorb fluid and cushion the skin. They are the most common choice for wounds that drain, and the cushioning helps over bony areas such as heels, hips and the tailbone. Foams come in three styles:

• Non-bordered foam has no adhesive and is held on with tape or a wrap. Optifoam Basic is the simplest; its label lists pressure injuries, skin tears, leg ulcers, lacerations, abrasions and first- and second-degree burns.
• Bordered foam has an adhesive edge so it needs no tape. Optifoam Gentle uses a silicone border that can be lifted and reapplied.
• Shaped foam is cut for awkward areas: sacrum dressings for the tailbone and the Optifoam Heel dressing, which Medline labels for moderate to heavy drainage.

Match the foam to the amount of fluid. Optifoam Gentle Lite is labeled for minimal drainage. Optifoam Gentle LQ and Gentle EX add a superabsorbent core for more. Medline’s foam labels say not to use them on third-degree burns or lesions with active vasculitis, and most list wear of up to 7 days.

For tailbone and hip dressings, see what to look for in a dressing for sacral and multisite areas.

Alginate dressings

An alginate is a soft, felt-like pad made from seaweed fibers. It absorbs a lot of fluid and turns into a gel as it does. Alginates are a primary dressing for wounds that drain moderately or heavily, with a cover dressing on top.

Medline Maxorb II is 100% calcium alginate, in squares from 2" to 6" and in 12" and 18" ropes. Its label lists moderate to heavily draining wounds, including pressure, leg and diabetic ulcers, surgical wounds, lacerations, abrasions and first- and second-degree burns, with wear of up to 7 days. The label also says what it is not for: third-degree burns, controlling heavy bleeding, dry or lightly draining wounds, or anyone sensitive to alginates.

Superabsorbent dressings

Superabsorbent dressings have a polymer core that pulls in large amounts of fluid and locks it away as a gel, keeping it off the surrounding skin. They are for wounds that soak through other dressings quickly.

• OptiLock is nonadhesive, in 5 sizes, and works as a primary or secondary dressing.
• Qwick has three fast-wicking layers and can be cut to shape. Medline labels it for moderate to heavy drainage.
• CURAD Super Absorbent comes in 3" and 4" sizes, 240 per case.

All three are nonadhesive, so they need tape or a wrap. See how to choose medical tape.

Island dressings and non-stick pads

Not every wound needs an advanced dressing. Small cuts, scrapes and surgical incisions are often covered with an island dressing: an absorbent pad in the middle of an adhesive border.

• Medline bordered gauze has a non-adherent contact layer and a water-resistant backing, in 8 sizes.
• Stratasorb adds a waterproof film layer.
• Gentac silicone island dressings use a gentle silicone adhesive for skin that tears easily.

For plain pads and gauze, read gauze pads vs non-stick dressings or browse our gauze.

Choosing for fragile skin

Older adults and people on some long-term medicines can have skin that tears when tape or a dressing comes off. For them, choose a dressing with a silicone adhesive, such as Optifoam Gentle, OptiView or Gentac. Silicone holds firmly but lifts off with less pull on the skin. Our guide to choosing a dressing for fragile or sensitive skin goes into more detail.

When to call a nurse or doctor

A dressing protects a wound; it doesn’t diagnose one. Get a nurse or doctor to look at the wound, rather than choosing a dressing yourself, if:

• the wound is deep, large, or won’t stop bleeding
• it shows signs of infection: spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, a bad smell or a fever
• it isn’t getting smaller after about two weeks
• it is a pressure injury, a leg ulcer or a wound on the foot of someone with diabetes
• you aren’t sure what type of wound it is

A clinician can also tell you how often to change the dressing. "Up to 7 days" on a label is the longest a dressing can stay on, not a schedule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common type of wound dressing?

For everyday cuts and scrapes, it’s an adhesive bandage or a gauze or non-stick pad. For wounds that drain and need more than a few days of care, foam dressings are the most widely used.

What is a transparent film dressing used for?

Covering wounds with little or no drainage, protecting skin from rubbing, and covering IV sites. You can see through it without taking it off.

Can I use a foam dressing on a dry wound?

Foam is made to absorb fluid, so a dry wound gains little from it. A hydrocolloid or a hydrogel with a cover dressing suits a dry wound better. Ask a nurse if you aren’t sure.

Do I need to clean the wound before putting on a new dressing?

Yes, unless your care instructions say otherwise. See how to use swabs to clean wounds safely at home.