Mepore Ultra (Waterproof Absorbant Adhesive Dressing)

Some wounds are in locations or on patients where standard adhesive island dressings struggle to stay in place. Active patients, wounds near joints, and patients whose skin is less receptive to standard adhesive can find that dressings peel before the planned change time. Mepore Ultra is an enhanced adhesion absorbent island dressing from Molnlycke Health Care. It uses the same absorbent pad and breathable fabric backing as Mepore, with a stronger adhesive formulation designed to maintain a secure hold during activity and through brief contact with water. Two sizes: 10cm x 11cm and 11cm x 15cm. No prescription needed.

Mepore Ultra is a regulated medical device from Molnlycke Health Care. It is the enhanced adhesion version of Mepore in the Molnlycke dressings range. The dressing has the same construction as Mepore: a breathable fabric backing, an absorbent wound pad, a low adherence wound contact layer, and an adhesive border that holds the dressing against the surrounding skin without secondary fixation. The distinction between Mepore Ultra and Mepore is the adhesive formulation. Mepore Ultra uses a stronger adhesive that provides a more secure bond to the skin.

The stronger adhesive of Mepore Ultra is suited to situations where standard Mepore adhesion is not sufficient. This includes wound sites near joints where movement repeatedly flexes the skin under the dressing border, active patients who exercise or move frequently during the recovery period, wounds in anatomical locations where sweat or body contour makes standard adhesive dressings prone to peeling, and patients whose skin requires a stronger adhesive bond to maintain dressing position between changes.

Mepore Ultra is water-resistant. The fabric backing tolerates brief contact with water during showering better than a dressing with no water resistance. However, Mepore Ultra is not fully waterproof. The fabric backing is breathable and moisture vapour permeable, which means it is not an impermeable barrier to liquid water in the way the polyurethane film of Mepore Film & Pad is. For patients who require a fully waterproof absorbent dressing, Mepore Film & Pad is the appropriate product.

Two sizes are available: 10cm x 11cm and 11cm x 15cm, the same dimensions as standard Mepore. Total dimensions include the central wound contact pad and the surrounding adhesive border.

Mepore Ultra has a stronger adhesive than standard Mepore. This provides better hold but also means removal requires more care, particularly on fragile, thin, or elderly skin. Peel the border slowly along the skin surface, never upward at a sharp angle. Support the skin ahead of the peeling edge at removal. On sensitive skin, dampen the border edge before removal to reduce the adhesive force needed. Mepore Ultra is water resistant, not fully waterproof. Avoid prolonged soaking.

Enhanced Adhesive Formulation

The adhesive used on the border of Mepore Ultra is a stronger formulation than that used on standard Mepore. A stronger adhesive provides a greater bond force to the skin, resisting the peeling forces created by joint movement, muscle contraction, and clothing friction during daily activity. The enhanced adhesive is particularly relevant for wounds in locations where the skin surface moves substantially during normal use, such as the knee, elbow, shoulder, or hip. The stronger bond reduces the frequency with which the dressing border lifts before the planned change time.

Absorbent Pad and Low Adherence Wound Contact

The central absorbent pad draws wound exudate from the wound surface and holds it within the pad. The wound contact layer has low adherence properties, reducing bonding between the pad and the wound surface during the wear period. At dressing changes, the pad can typically be lifted from the wound without significant resistance when changed at the appropriate interval. If the pad feels adherent, dampening with water or sterile saline before removal softens any dried exudate and allows the pad to separate more easily from the wound.

Breathable Fabric Backing

The fabric backing of Mepore Ultra, like standard Mepore, is breathable. Moisture vapour from the skin surface beneath the dressing passes through the fabric and evaporates. This breathability keeps the skin beneath the adhesive border drier and more comfortable during extended wear than a fully occlusive backing would. The breathable structure also contributes to the water resistance of the dressing during brief water contact, as the fabric structure repels short water exposure without being a fully sealed film barrier.

Preparation

• Wash hands and use gloves.
• Clean the wound and surrounding skin. Pat completely dry.
• Dry skin is essential for the adhesive to bond effectively.

Application

• Select the appropriate size: 10cm x 11cm or 11cm x 15cm.
• Remove the release liner.
• Position the central pad over the wound.
• Press the adhesive border firmly onto the surrounding skin, working from the centre outward.
• No secondary fixation is required.

Removal

• Change when the pad is saturated, the border has lifted, or when clinically indicated.
• Peel one corner of the border slowly back along the skin surface.
• Do not peel upward at a sharp angle. The stronger adhesive makes this particularly important.
• Support the skin ahead of the peeling edge.
• On sensitive or elderly skin, dampen the border edge before removal.
• Assess the wound at each change.

The enhanced adhesive of Mepore Ultra requires greater care at removal than standard Mepore, especially on fragile or elderly skin. If resistance is felt during removal, stop, dampen the area, wait briefly, then continue peeling slowly. Do not continue pulling if the skin is blanching or showing signs of stripping.

Mepore Ultra 10cm x 11cm

A medium island dressing with total dimensions of 10cm x 11cm. Suited to moderate-sized wounds where enhanced adhesion is needed. The same dimensions as the standard Mepore 10cm x 11cm, allowing direct substitution in situations where a stronger adhesive is clinically indicated.

Mepore Ultra 11cm x 15cm

A larger island dressing with total dimensions of 11cm x 15cm. For extended wound areas, longer post operative incisions, and wound sites where greater pad coverage alongside enhanced adhesion is needed. Matches the larger standard Mepore size for direct substitution when stronger adhesion is required.

Both sizes have the same construction. The wound should sit entirely within the central pad, with the adhesive border on intact periwound skin on all sides.

When Not to Use Mepore Ultra

• Wet, greasy, excoriated, or fragile periwound skin where adhesive will not bond or where the stronger adhesive would increase the risk of skin trauma at removal.
• Infected wounds.
• Wounds where adhesive contact with surrounding skin is contraindicated.

Precautions

• Apply to completely dry skin only.
• Remove slowly along the skin surface, not at a sharp upward angle.
• Support the skin at removal. The stronger adhesive requires greater care on fragile or elderly skin.
• Dampen before removal on sensitive skin.
• Not fully waterproof. Avoid prolonged soaking.
• Single use only.

Adverse Effects

• Skin stripping or trauma at removal if the border is peeled at a sharp angle from fragile or sensitive skin. Risk is higher than with standard Mepore due to the stronger adhesive.
• Adhesive skin reaction in individuals sensitive to the adhesive components.
• Wound pad adherence if left beyond the normal change interval on a dry wound.

When to Choose Mepore Ultra over Standard Mepore

• Wound sites near joints where movement repeatedly tests the adhesive border during daily activity
• Active patients recovering from surgery or wound management who are unable to restrict activity during the healing period
• Anatomical sites where body contour or perspiration makes standard adhesive dressings prone to early lifting
• Patients whose skin requires a stronger adhesive to maintain dressing position between scheduled changes
• Adults and children on intact periwound skin where the stronger adhesive is appropriate

Mepore Ultra vs Mepore vs Mepore Film & Pad

All three are absorbent island dressings from Molnlycke Health Care. Mepore is the standard version with a soft fabric backing and standard adhesive. Mepore Ultra has the same construction but with a stronger adhesive for improved hold during activity and through brief water contact. Mepore Film & Pad has a transparent film outer layer and is fully waterproof, suited to patients who shower regularly and need a waterproof barrier. Mepore Ultra is the appropriate choice when the challenge is adhesive longevity and dressing security rather than full waterproof protection.

Mepore Ultra does not require a prescription. Both sizes are available from Pharmacy Planet without a clinical consultation.

Our pharmacists can advise on whether Mepore Ultra, standard Mepore, or Mepore Film & Pad is the most appropriate product for a specific wound site and patient situation.

Seek clinical assessment for infected wounds, wounds not healing as expected, or patients with fragile skin where the stronger adhesive may not be appropriate.

• 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 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. Both Mepore Ultra sizes are genuine Molnlycke Health Care products stocked through regulated UK supply chains.

Our pharmacists can advise on the full Mepore range and on matching each product to the wound type, patient activity level, and skin condition.

References

1. Molnlycke Health Care. Mepore Ultra — 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.