Melolin (Non-stick Wound Dressing)

Removing a wound dressing that has bonded to the wound surface disrupts healing tissue and causes pain. A dressing designed to absorb wound exudate without bonding to the wound itself solves this problem: exudate passes through a film layer into an absorbent core, and the film does not adhere to the wound as fibres would. Melolin is a low adherence absorbent wound dressing pad from Smith & Nephew. The perforated polyester film wound contact face allows exudate to pass through into the absorbent core, while the film remains in contact with but does not bond to the wound surface. Three sizes. Secondary fixation required. No prescription needed.

Melolin is a regulated medical device from Smith & Nephew. It is a three-layer wound dressing pad consisting of a perforated polyester film wound contact face, an absorbent cotton and viscose fibre core, and a non-woven backing layer. The three layers together provide a dressing that absorbs wound exudate from the wound surface, holds it within the absorbent core, and presents a wound contact face that does not bond to wound tissue in the way that plain gauze or fibres would.

The wound contact face is a perforated polyester film. The film itself does not absorb fluid. The perforations are openings through which wound exudate passes from the wound surface into the absorbent core above. The core absorbs and retains the fluid. The film face remains in contact with the wound surface throughout the wear period but the smooth film surface does not form the fibrous bonds with wound tissue that cause dry gauze dressings to adhere as the wound dries. This is the mechanism by which Melolin reduces adherence to the wound at removal.

Irrigating with sterile saline before removal resolves most instances of adherence. Melolin is not a fully occlusive or waterproof dressing and does not maintain a moist wound environment in the way that hydrocolloid or foam dressings do.

Melolin has no adhesive component and requires secondary fixation at every application. Three sizes are available: 5cm x 5cm, 10cm x 10cm, and 10cm x 20cm. No active pharmaceutical ingredients are present.

Melolin requires secondary fixation. It must be held in place with tape, a bandage, a tubular bandage, or another appropriate fixation method at every application. Without secondary fixation, the pad will shift on the wound. Melolin is not a waterproof dressing. Protect it from water during bathing and showering. If the dressing feels adherent at removal, irrigate with sterile saline before lifting. Do not pull an adherent Melolin pad from a wound by force.

Perforated Film Wound Contact Face

The wound contact face of Melolin is a perforated polyester film. Polyester is a synthetic material that does not absorb water and does not interact chemically with wound tissue. The perforations are small openings distributed across the film surface through which wound exudate flows from the wound into the absorbent core. The smooth polyester film that surrounds the perforations contacts the wound surface but does not form the adhesive bonds with wound tissue that occur when fibrous materials dry against an exuding wound.

Absorbent Core

The middle layer of Melolin is an absorbent pad of cotton and viscose fibres. This core absorbs and holds the wound exudate that passes through the perforated film from the wound surface. By holding the fluid within the core rather than allowing it to pool at the wound surface, Melolin prevents the wound surface from becoming saturated. The core has a defined absorption capacity. When the core is saturated, the dressing should be changed.

Removing Melolin at Dressing Changes

Because the film face does not form strong bonds with wound tissue, Melolin can typically be lifted from the wound surface at dressing changes without significant resistance. On dry wounds or after extended wear, some adherence of the film to wound tissue can develop. In these cases, moistening the dressing with sterile saline before removal allows the film to separate from the wound surface more easily. The saline penetrates through the perforations and loosens any dried exudate that has formed between the film and the wound.

Secondary Fixation

Melolin has no integral adhesive and cannot hold itself in place on the wound. A secondary fixation method is required at every application. The choice of fixation depends on the wound site and patient situation. Surgical tape around the pad borders holds it in place on flat skin surfaces. A retention bandage secures the pad on limb wounds. A tubular bandage over the pad keeps it in position on digit and limb wounds. Compression bandaging over Melolin is used in venous leg ulcer management and provides both fixation and compression therapy simultaneously.

Preparation

• Wash hands and use gloves.
• Clean the wound with sterile saline and pat the surrounding skin dry.
• Prepare the secondary fixation before opening Melolin.

Application

• Select the appropriate size: 5cm x 5cm, 10cm x 10cm, or 10cm x 20cm.
• Open Melolin from its sterile packaging, touching only the edges.
• Place the film face directly against the wound surface.
• Apply secondary fixation immediately: tape, bandage, or tubular bandage as appropriate.

Removal

• At each change, assess the wound surface through the dressing before removing.
• Lift the fixation first, then gently lift the pad from the wound.
• If the pad feels adherent, irrigate with sterile saline through the perforations before lifting.
• Change when the dressing is saturated, soiled, or when clinically indicated.
• Assess the wound at each change for signs of infection or deterioration.

If Melolin is used under compression bandaging for venous leg ulcer management, the bandage provides both fixation and compression. Change the Melolin at each bandage change. Do not attempt to remove Melolin without removing the bandage first. Irrigate if any adherence has developed beneath the bandage before the next application.

Melolin 5cm x 5cm

A small pad suited to minor wounds, small lacerations, suture line cover, and wound sites where the 10cm x 10cm pad would extend significantly onto intact skin.

Melolin 10cm x 10cm

A medium square pad for moderate-sized wounds across a range of wound types and body sites. A widely used size for post-operative wound cover, suture removal sites, venous leg ulcer surfaces, and general wound management where a 10cm x 10cm pad provides adequate coverage.

Melolin 10cm x 20cm

A larger rectangular pad for extended wound areas where the 10cm x 10cm does not provide adequate coverage. Suited to longer wounds, donor sites, and wound surfaces that run along a limb or trunk where a rectangular format covers the wound more efficiently than a square.

Secondary fixation is required with all three sizes.

Precautions

• Always apply secondary fixation immediately after placing Melolin.
• Do not use without secondary fixation.
• Irrigate with saline before removal if the dressing feels adherent.
• Do not pull an adherent pad by force.
• Single use only.
• Not waterproof. Protect from water during bathing.

Adverse Effects

• Wound adherence if the dressing is left beyond the normal change interval or on a very dry wound surface.
• Skin irritation at the fixation borders if the same skin area is repeatedly taped.
• Wound maceration if the absorbent core reaches saturation before the dressing is changed.

Wounds and Situations Where Melolin Is Appropriate

• Post operative wound cover for suture lines and incisions in the healing phase, where a low adherence absorbent pad is specified
• Minor wound management at home, where a dressing that can be changed without trauma to the healing surface is needed
• Wound contact layer in venous leg ulcer management under compression bandaging, where Melolin provides a low adherence surface between the wound and the bandage
• Suture removal sites requiring continued wound cover
• Burns in the later healing stages, where absorbency and low adherence are both required
• Adults and children

Melolin vs Jelonet

Both Melolin and Jelonet are low adherence wound contact materials from Smith & Nephew used where atraumatic removal is a clinical priority. Jelonet uses paraffin-impregnated gauze: the paraffin coating prevents fibre bonding with wound tissue. Melolin uses a perforated polyester film: the film itself provides the low-adhesion surface rather than paraffin. Melolin has a built-in absorbent core; Jelonet has no absorbency and always requires a separate absorbent secondary. Melolin is appropriate when both low adherence and some absorbency are needed in one pad.

Melolin does not require a prescription. All three sizes are available from Pharmacy Planet without a clinical consultation.

Our pharmacists can advise on Melolin size selection, appropriate secondary fixation methods, and when a different wound contact material would be more appropriate for the wound type.

Seek clinical assessment for infected wounds, wounds not healing as expected, or complex wound management situations.

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

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy. All three Melolin sizes are genuine Smith & Nephew products stocked through regulated UK supply chains.

Our pharmacists can advise on Melolin and on appropriate secondary dressing and fixation options for different wound types and sites.

References

1. Smith & Nephew. Melolin — Instructions for Use. Smith & Nephew. https://www.smith-nephew.com. Accessed June 2026.
2. NHS. How to treat minor cuts and grazes at home. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cuts-and-grazes. Accessed June 2026.
3. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Wound care products: selection and prescribing. https://www.nice.org.uk. Accessed June 2026.