CONVAMAX NON ADHESIVE

Wounds that produce very heavy volumes of exudate present two related clinical problems: finding a dressing with sufficient capacity to last a meaningful wear period and ensuring that absorbed fluid does not work its way back to the wound surface when the patient rests or moves. ConvaMax Non-Adhesive is a superabsorbent wound pad from ConvaTec that addresses both through a polymer-based construction designed to draw in large volumes of fluid and hold them permanently regardless of the pressure applied to the dressing. Four sizes from 10cm x 10cm to 20cm x 40cm. No adhesive. Secondary fixation required. No active pharmaceutical ingredients. No prescription required.

ConvaMax Non-Adhesive is the full product name, derived from the range title ConvaMax Superabsorber. It is a Class IIb regulated medical device from ConvaTec. The dressing is a multi-layer absorbent pad in which a superabsorbent polymer layer forms the primary fluid retention mechanism. The pad has a soft wound contact surface, the superabsorbent polymer core, and an outer facing layer. There is no adhesive border or coating of any kind, the dressing requires external fixation at every application.

The distinction between superabsorbent polymer dressings and conventional foam or fibre dressings lies in how fluid is held once it is absorbed. Conventional absorbent dressings hold fluid within a matrix of foam cells, fibres, or gel that can release the fluid if compressed. When a patient lies or sits on the dressing, the pressure can drive absorbed fluid back toward the wound surface, a problem known as rewetting. The superabsorbent polymer in ConvaMax Non-Adhesive binds absorbed fluid through a chemical process that locks it permanently within the polymer structure. The fluid does not release under normal clinical compression forces. This is the defining clinical property of superabsorbent dressings over conventional absorbents.

ConvaMax Non-Adhesive is available in four sizes: 10cm x 10cm, 10cm x 20cm, 20cm x 30cm, and 20cm x 40cm. The two larger sizes are significantly larger than most wound dressings and are intended for extensive wound areas including large pressure ulcers, post-surgical wounds with high exudate, and other situations where broad coverage and high fluid retention are needed simultaneously.

There are no active pharmaceutical ingredients. ConvaMax Non-Adhesive does not treat infection and does not provide antimicrobial coverage. It manages wound exudate only.

ConvaMax Non-Adhesive has no adhesive and will not hold itself against the skin. It must be secured with secondary fixation, a bandage, retention sheet, or equivalent, at every application. An unsecured superabsorbent pad on a wound will shift and cause friction injury. ConvaMax Non-Adhesive contains no antimicrobial agent. It is not appropriate for infected wounds.

Superabsorbent Polymer Core

The core of ConvaMax Non-Adhesive contains a superabsorbent polymer — a material engineered to absorb and retain large volumes of aqueous fluid relative to its own weight. When wound exudate contacts the polymer, it is drawn into the polymer structure and undergoes a process of swelling and chemical binding. The fluid becomes incorporated into the polymer matrix and does not freely move within it. Under compression - including the sustained pressure of a patient's body weight against a wound site such as the sacrum or heel - the bound fluid remains locked within the polymer rather than being released back toward the wound surface.

Why Rewetting Matters in Wound Care

Rewetting is the return of absorbed fluid to the wound surface when an absorbent dressing is compressed. It occurs with conventional foam and fibre dressings because the fluid is held loosely within the absorbent matrix. When pressure is applied, the fluid is squeezed outward toward the lowest resistance - which is often the wound contact surface. Rewetting returns exudate to the wound bed, re-wets the periwound skin, and increases the risk of maceration. For wounds on pressure sites where the patient is recumbent for extended periods, rewetting from a conventional dressing is a persistent clinical challenge. The locked fluid property of the superabsorbent polymer addresses this directly.

Wound Contact Surface and Secondary Fixation

The wound contact surface of ConvaMax Non-Adhesive is designed to be non-adherent to moist wound tissue, allowing the pad to be lifted at removal without significant bonding to the wound bed. Exudate passes through this surface layer into the polymer core above. The outer facing layer provides structural integrity to the pad. Because there is no adhesive, the fixation method is chosen based on the wound location, the patient's mobility, and the surrounding skin condition.

Before Applying

• Wash hands and use gloves.
• Clean the wound as directed.
• Prepare the secondary fixation product before applying the dressing.

Application

• Select the appropriate size: 10cm x 10cm, 10cm x 20cm, 20cm x 30cm, or 20cm x 40cm.
• Place the dressing over the wound with the wound contact surface facing the wound bed.
• Apply secondary fixation immediately to hold the dressing in place.
• For wounds on pressure sites, ensure fixation holds the pad securely when the patient is repositioned.
• Note the date and time of application.

Removal

• Remove secondary fixation first, then lift the pad from the wound.
• The wound contact surface should separate without significant resistance.
• Assess the wound at each change.
• Monitor whether fluid is reaching the pad edges - if so, increase change frequency or consider a larger size.

For wounds on pressure-loaded sites, ConvaMax Non-Adhesive can be used under compression or against a pressure-redistributing surface. The locked fluid property means the polymer does not release absorbed exudate when compressed. Check that secondary fixation remains secure after repositioning, particularly for patients with high levels of movement or those managed with regular turning regimes.

ConvaMax Non-Adhesive 10cm x 10cm

A medium square suited to moderate-sized wounds including pressure ulcers at earlier stages, venous leg ulcer areas, and post-operative wounds where superabsorbent polymer fluid retention is indicated and a 10cm x 10cm coverage area is appropriate.

ConvaMax Non-Adhesive 10cm x 20cm

A rectangular format for elongated wound sites where the wound runs longer than it is wide. Suitable for lower limb wounds, elongated surgical wounds, and other sites where a rectangular pad provides better coverage alignment than a square.

ConvaMax Non-Adhesive 20cm x 30cm

A large format for extensive wound areas requiring broad superabsorbent coverage. Suited to larger pressure ulcers, large post-operative wounds with very high exudate, and other extensive wounds under clinical supervision where a standard foam or fibre dressing is insufficient.

ConvaMax Non-Adhesive 20cm x 40cm

The largest size in the range. Provides the broadest possible wound coverage with superabsorbent polymer fluid retention. For very extensive wound areas - including large trunk wounds, extensive pressure wound areas, or wound sites requiring the maximum available non-adhesive superabsorbent coverage. Use under clinical supervision.

The two larger sizes are significantly bigger than standard wound dressings and are intended for clinical settings and complex wound management rather than routine self-managed wound care. For the smaller sizes, self-management is appropriate with suitable guidance on fixation.

Do Not Use ConvaMax Non-Adhesive If

• The wound is infected as no antimicrobial action is present.
• The wound is dry or minimally exuding - superabsorbent dressings are designed for high exudate volumes.
• Known sensitivity to any component of the dressing.
• Secondary fixation cannot be safely applied at the wound site.

Precautions

• Always apply and confirm secondary fixation immediately after placing the dressing.
• Do not apply fixation so tightly that it restricts circulation, particularly at lower limb wound sites and in patients with diabetes or peripheral vascular disease.
• Reassess at each change. If exudate volume falls, a less absorbent dressing may be more appropriate.
• Single use only.
• Remove before MRI.

Adverse Effects

• Wound desiccation if used on a wound transitioning from heavy to low exudate without dressing review.
• Skin irritation under secondary fixation - related to the fixation method rather than the dressing pad itself.

Wounds Where ConvaMax Non-Adhesive Is Appropriate

• Very heavily exuding wounds where standard foam dressings saturate within an unacceptably short wear period and more frequent changes would be clinically or practically difficult
• Wounds on pressure-loaded sites including the sacrum, heels, and other bony prominences, where rewetting from conventional absorbent dressings is a clinical problem
• Large wound areas requiring broad absorbent coverage that extends beyond the dimensions available in standard adhesive foam formats
• Wounds where no adhesive border is clinically appropriate - fragile periwound skin, excoriated skin around the wound, or sites where adhesive application is contraindicated
• Adults under clinical supervision for complex wound management

ConvaMax Non-Adhesive and Biatain Super Adhesive Dressing

ConvaMax Non-Adhesive (ConvaTec) and Biatain Super Adhesive Dressing (Coloplast) are both superabsorbent polymer dressings for heavily exuding wounds. Both use a polymer that locks fluid and prevents rewetting under compression. The practical differences are the border and the size range. Biatain Super Adhesive Dressing has an integrated adhesive border and four sizes up to 20cm x 20cm. ConvaMax Non-Adhesive has no border and requires secondary fixation but extends to the larger 20cm x 30cm and 20cm x 40cm formats. Choose based on whether an adhesive or non-adhesive format is clinically appropriate and whether the larger sizes are needed.

ConvaMax Non-Adhesive is a regulated medical device and does not require a prescription. All four sizes are available from Pharmacy Planet.

Our pharmacists can advise on size selection and on whether a superabsorbent non-adhesive format or a superabsorbent adhesive format such as Biatain Super Adhesive Dressing is better suited to a specific wound and patient.

Wounds producing very heavy exudate, large pressure ulcers, and complex wounds under specialist management should be assessed by a tissue viability nurse, district nurse, or clinical team. Dressing selection for these wound types is part of a broader clinical management plan.

• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light.
• Do not store above 25°C.
• Keep in original sealed packaging until immediately before use.
• Do not use if packaging is damaged.
• Check the expiry date before use.
• Apply as soon as the packaging is opened.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Dispose of used dressings as clinical waste.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy. All four sizes of ConvaMax Non-Adhesive are genuine ConvaTec products sourced through regulated UK supply chains.

Our pharmacists can advise on superabsorbent dressing selection across the range and on secondary fixation options for different wound sites and patient situations.

References

1. ConvaTec. ConvaMax Superabsorber Non-Adhesive — Instructions for Use. ConvaTec. https://www.convatec.com. Accessed May 2026.
2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Pressure ulcers: prevention and management (CG179). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg179. Accessed May 2026.
3. Wounds UK. Best Practice Statement: Wound exudate — effective assessment and management. https://www.wounds-uk.com. Accessed May 2026.
4. NHS. Pressure sores (pressure ulcers). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pressure-sores. Accessed May 2026.