Examples of Foam Dressings
Foam dressings are polyurethane-based absorbent wound care products that include brands such as Allevyn, Mepilex, Biatain, Lyofoam, and PolyMem. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Specific Foam Dressing Products
Commonly Available Brands
- Allevyn (Smith & Nephew): A polyurethane foam dressing with superior water-absorbing rate (646% at 24 hours), excellent water-locking capacity, and high air permeability 5
- Mepilex (Mölnlycke): A foam dressing with the fastest water-absorbing speed (119.68 g×s⁻¹×m⁻² at 1 minute) and good overall absorption properties 3, 5
- Biatain (Coloplast): A foam dressing with the lowest water evaporation capacity (5.6 g×h⁻¹×m⁻²), making it ideal for maintaining moist wound environments 5
- Lyofoam (ConvaTec): Available in multiple presentations including standard Lyofoam for light-to-moderate exudate, Lyofoam Extra for heavy exudate, and Lyofoam C with carbon layer for malodorous wounds 4
- PolyMem: A polyurethane foam dressing used as a standard comparator in wound healing studies 6
Specialized Foam Dressing Variants
By Exudate Level
- Light to moderate exudate: Standard Lyofoam, basic foam dressings 4
- Moderate to heavy exudate: Mepilex, Lyofoam Extra, Biatain 2, 4, 5
- Heavily exuding wounds: Lyofoam Extra specifically designed for high absorption 4
By Special Features
- Non-adherent contact layer: Lyofoam with low-adherent surface that protects granulation tissue 4
- Antimicrobial properties: Silver-containing foam dressings (though guidelines recommend against using these solely for healing acceleration) 1
- Odor control: Lyofoam C with carbon layer for malodorous wounds 4
- Specialized shapes: Lyofoam T with cross-cut design for tracheostomy wounds 4
Clinical Selection Principles
Primary Selection Criteria
Select foam dressings based on exudate control, comfort, and cost—not on material type or antimicrobial properties for healing acceleration. 1, 3, 7
Functional Characteristics
- Absorption mechanisms: Simple foams allow fluid pass-through while maintaining non-adherent contact; advanced foams absorb fluid within their structure with horizontal wicking for greater absorbency 8
- Moisture balance: Foam dressings maintain optimal water vapor transmission rates to create moist wound healing environments 9
- Conformability: Polyurethane foams compress under negative pressure, providing constant medial traction and "splinting effect" in open wounds 1
Important Clinical Caveats
What Foam Dressings Should NOT Be Used For
- Do not use foam dressings with antimicrobial agents solely to accelerate healing of diabetic foot ulcers 1, 3, 7
- Avoid occlusive foam dressings if infection is present, as they may promote bacterial growth 2
- Foam dressings must be adjunctive to addressing underlying pathology (debridement, pressure offloading, revascularization) 3, 7
Secondary Dressing Applications
- Foam dressings like Exu-Dry™ serve as secondary dressings over non-adherent primary layers (such as Mepitel™) to collect exudate in conditions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome 1
- In hidradenitis suppurativa, simple foam dressings are used for postsurgical wounds, while advanced foam dressings manage more complex wounds 1