Mepore Film (Film Only Dressing)

A transparent film dressing protects a wound or skin site from water, external contamination, and friction while allowing the clinician or patient to observe the wound through the dressing without removing it. The film conforms to body contours, moves with the skin, and stays in place during showering and bathing. Mepore Film is a transparent polyurethane film dressing from Molnlycke Health Care. Waterproof. Transparent. Moisture vapour permeable. Self-adhesive. Three sizes: 6cm x 7cm, 10cm x 12cm, and 15cm x 20cm. No prescription required.

Mepore Film is a regulated medical device from Molnlycke Health Care. It is a transparent polyurethane film dressing consisting of a thin, clear, flexible polyurethane film coated with a skin-friendly adhesive on its underside. The film adheres directly to the periwound skin or surrounding skin surface and has no central pad, no absorbent layer, and no wound contact material distinct from the film itself. The film is the dressing.

Mepore Film is in a different product category from Mepore, the absorbent island dressing from the same manufacturer. Mepore has an absorbent pad, a wound contact layer, and a backing; it manages wounds producing exudate. Mepore Film is a pure film dressing with no absorbency. It is appropriate for dry to minimally exuding wounds and skin sites where protection from external fluids and contamination is the clinical objective rather than exudate management.

The polyurethane film has two important properties that work alongside each other. It is waterproof: liquid water and external fluids cannot penetrate the film from outside. It is also moisture vapour permeable: water vapour produced by the skin beneath the film can pass through the film structure and evaporate. This combination allows the film to act as a waterproof barrier to external water while allowing the skin beneath to breathe and reducing the risk of maceration that would occur beneath a fully occlusive covering.

The transparent film allows the wound or skin site beneath to be observed at any time without removing the dressing. This is clinically useful for monitoring wound healing progress, checking cannula insertion sites for signs of inflammation, and assessing skin integrity under the film without the disruption of a dressing change.

Mepore Film has no absorbent capacity. It must not be applied to wounds producing exudate. Liquid pooling under the film will cause maceration and will lift the film edges from the skin. For exuding wounds, an absorbent wound contact dressing is needed either instead of or beneath the film. Mepore Film is also not suitable for infected wounds. Apply to completely dry intact periwound skin only.

Waterproof Protection

The polyurethane film is impermeable to liquid water. When Mepore Film is applied over a wound or skin site and the film is intact and the edges are adhering to the surrounding skin, external water cannot reach the wound through the film during showering, bathing, or contact with water during daily activity. This protection allows patients to bathe normally without needing to cover the dressing or avoid water contact, which supports comfort and wound hygiene.

Moisture Vapour Transmission

While the film blocks liquid water, it allows moisture vapour to pass through. The polyurethane structure is permeable to water vapour molecules, which are much smaller than liquid water droplets. Moisture vapour produced by normal skin transpiration and wound surface activity passes through the film and evaporates from the outer surface. This prevents the warm, moist environment that builds up beneath fully occlusive films and reduces the risk of skin maceration under the dressing during extended wear.

Transparency for Wound Monitoring

The film is transparent throughout. The wound, skin, or device insertion site beneath the film can be observed clearly without lifting or removing the dressing. A clinician or patient can check the wound appearance, monitor the condition of an IV cannula site, assess whether redness or swelling has developed, or observe healing progress at any time. This visual access without removal reduces unnecessary dressing changes and limits disturbance to the wound or skin environment.

Flexible Conformable Film

The thin flexible polyurethane film conforms to body contours and moves with the skin during normal activity. It does not crinkle, wrinkle, or create pressure points over bony prominences in the way that stiffer dressings can. This conformability makes Mepore Film suitable for awkward body sites where a rigid dressing would not maintain a consistent seal.

Preparation

• Wash hands and use gloves.
• Ensure the wound and surrounding skin are completely dry. Any moisture will prevent the adhesive from bonding and cause the film to lift early.
• Do not apply to skin with creams, lotions, or residue from other products.

Application

• Select the appropriate size: 6cm x 7cm, 10cm x 12cm, or 15cm x 20cm.
• Remove the release liner.
• Apply the film centrally over the wound or site, keeping the film tension free to prevent skin tension or wrinkling.
• Smooth from the centre outward to remove air pockets and ensure full contact with the skin.
• Avoid stretching the film during application.

Removal

• To remove, lift one corner and peel the film back slowly along the skin surface, not upward at a sharp angle.
• On fragile or elderly skin, support the skin ahead of the peeling edge to minimise tension.
• Remove slowly and steadily.

Never stretch Mepore Film during application. Applied under tension, the film can cause skin stripping at the edges, particularly on elderly or fragile skin. Apply relaxed and smooth from the centre outward. For removal on fragile skin, dampen the border edge briefly with water to reduce adhesive tension before peeling.

Mepore Film 6cm x 7cm

A small film dressing for compact wound sites, small incision cover, digit wounds, and IV cannula sites, where a smaller film area provides adequate coverage.

Mepore Film 10cm x 12cm

A medium film for moderate-sized wound surfaces, post-operative incision cover over closed wounds, and sites where the 6cm x 7cm does not provide adequate coverage.

Mepore Film 15cm x 20cm

A large film for more extensive wound areas, large incision cover, and sites requiring broad transparent film protection. Also used as an outer secondary covering over primary wound contact materials, where a transparent film overlay is the chosen secondary dressing. Under clinical supervision for wounds at this scale.

All three sizes use the same polyurethane film material.

When Not to Use Mepore Film

• Wounds producing exudate. Pooling under the film causes maceration.
• Infected wounds.
• Skin with poor perfusion where film occlusion may impair skin health.
• Known sensitivity to polyurethane or the adhesive components.

Precautions

• Apply to completely dry skin. Any moisture prevents bonding.
• Apply relaxed, without tension.
• Remove slowly along the skin surface, not at a sharp angle.
• On fragile skin, support the skin ahead of the peeling edge at removal.
• Single use only.

Adverse Effects

• Skin stripping if the film is removed at a sharp angle or if applied under tension on fragile skin.
• Skin maceration if the film is applied over an exuding wound.
• Adhesive skin reaction in individuals sensitive to the adhesive components.

Situations Where Mepore Film Is Appropriate

• Dry or minimally exuding closed wounds where waterproof protection and visual monitoring through the dressing are the clinical objectives
• IV cannula and central line insertion site fixation and protection, where the film holds the line in place and allows the site to be observed for signs of inflammation without removing the dressing
• Post operative wound protection over closed suture lines where waterproof cover and wound monitoring are needed
• Secondary covering over primary wound contact materials such as alginate, hydrofibre, or gel dressings, where the film seals the perimeter and provides waterproof outer protection
• Protection of skin at risk over bony prominences or pressure areas where the transparent film provides a physical barrier between the skin and friction or shear forces
• Adults and children where clinically directed

Mepore Film vs Mepore

Mepore Film and Mepore are both products from Molnlycke Health Care but serve different wound management needs. Mepore is an absorbent adhesive island dressing with a wound contact pad and absorbent core for wounds producing exudate. Mepore Film is a pure transparent polyurethane film with no absorbency, suited to dry wounds, closed wound protection, cannula site fixation, and secondary film overlay applications. The two products are not interchangeable.

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

Our pharmacists can advise on size selection and on whether Mepore Film or an absorbent dressing is more appropriate for a specific wound.

Seek clinical assessment for infected wounds, wounds producing exudate, 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.
• Check expiry date before use.
• Apply as soon as the packaging is opened.
• Keep out of reach of children.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy. All three Mepore Film sizes are genuine Molnlycke Health Care products stocked through regulated UK supply chains.

Our pharmacists can advise on film dressing selection and on when Mepore Film, Mepore, or another wound dressing format is most appropriate for the wound type.

References

1. Molnlycke Health Care. Mepore Film — Product Information. Molnlycke Health Care. https://www.molnlycke.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.