OPSITE SPRAY DRESSING

Some wounds and skin sites are in locations where a conventional sheet or island dressing is impractical: curved surfaces, contoured areas, wounds that need protection without a dressing bulk against clothing, or skin sites where any adhesive border would lift immediately. A liquid film-forming spray addresses all of these situations. Spray the area, wait for the film to dry, and a thin transparent protective barrier forms directly on the skin surface without any physical dressing to place or hold. Opsite Spray Dressing is a liquid film-forming wound and skin protection spray from Smith & Nephew. 100ml pressurised aerosol. No prescription required.

Opsite Spray Dressing is a regulated medical device from Smith & Nephew. It is a liquid film-forming spray delivered from a 100ml pressurised aerosol can. The spray contains a film-forming polymer dissolved in a solvent carrier. When sprayed onto the skin surface, the solvent evaporates rapidly and leaves a thin, transparent, flexible film directly on the skin. This film provides a protective barrier over the treated area without requiring a physical dressing to be applied, secured, or managed.

The dried film is moisture-resistant. It provides a barrier against water, bodily fluids, and external contamination reaching the skin or wound surface beneath the film. The film is moisture vapour permeable: while it resists liquid water from outside, it allows the skin to breathe beneath the film and permits normal moisture vapour transmission. This means the skin beneath does not become occluded or macerated during normal film wear.

Opsite Spray Dressing is entirely different in format and application from the other Opsite film products. Opsite Film Dressing, Opsite Flexifix, and Opsite Post-Op all involve applying a pre-made physical film to the skin. Opsite Spray Dressing creates the film on the skin surface from a liquid. There is no adhesive border, no release liner, and no physical dressing to manage. The spray is applied, allowed to dry, and the film is in place.

Available in a single 100ml pressurised aerosol can. The aerosol delivers the spray in a fine, controlled mist that deposits an even film layer on the target area.

Opsite Spray Dressing is a pressurised aerosol and is flammable. Do not use near naked flames, sparks, or other ignition sources. Keep away from heat. Do not spray near the eyes, mouth, or mucous membranes. Do not spray into deep wounds, wound cavities, or sinuses. Do not spray onto infected wounds without clinical guidance. Keep the can upright during use and do not puncture or incinerate even when empty.

Film Forming Polymer

The active film-forming component of Opsite Spray Dressing is a polymer that remains in a flexible solid state once the solvent carrier has evaporated. When the spray reaches the skin surface, the fine droplets deposit the polymer and solvent mixture across the area. The solvent evaporates quickly at body temperature and in room air, leaving the polymer as a continuous thin film on the skin. The film is flexible enough to move with the skin surface without cracking or peeling during normal activity.

Moisture Resistant Barrier

The dried film provides a moisture-resistant barrier on the skin surface. Water from external sources, including shower water, wound exudate from surrounding areas, and bodily fluids, is resisted by the film surface. This protection is useful for skin at risk from maceration, for periwound skin surrounding wound dressings where the edges are vulnerable to exudate contact, and for wound surfaces where a light protective cover without a bulky dressing is clinically appropriate.

Moisture Vapour Permeability

The film is moisture vapour permeable, meaning the skin beneath can breathe normally. Water vapour from normal skin transpiration passes through the film and evaporates from the outer surface. This prevents the skin beneath from becoming occluded, which would cause maceration and skin breakdown during extended wear. The combination of moisture resistance from outside and moisture vapour permeability from beneath distinguishes Opsite Spray from simple occlusive coatings.

Film Wear and Reapplication

The film formed by Opsite Spray Dressing wears away gradually over time through normal skin cell turnover and physical contact. Reapplication is needed as the film diminishes. The frequency of reapplication depends on the skin site, the level of activity, and whether the area is subject to repeated contact with water or friction. Additional coats can be applied over an existing film layer to build up coverage. Allow each coat to dry before applying the next.

Preparation

• Ensure the skin surface is clean and dry before application.
• Pat dry any moisture from the skin.
• Remove any debris from the wound surface if applicable.

Application

• Hold the can upright approximately 10 to 15cm from the skin surface.
• Spray in a sweeping motion to deposit an even film layer over the target area.
• Allow the film to dry for approximately 30 seconds or as directed on the product labelling.
• A second coat can be applied over the first once dry to build up protection.
• Do not spray near eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes.
• Do not use near naked flames or ignition sources.

Reapplication

• Reapply as the film wears away or as clinically indicated.
• Apply to clean dry skin at each reapplication.

The aerosol contents are flammable. Allow the film to dry completely before the treated area comes into contact with any ignition source, open flame, or heat. Do not smoke during or immediately after application. In clinical settings, ensure the area is well ventilated during application.

Opsite Spray Dressing 100ml

Opsite Spray Dressing is available in a single 100ml pressurised aerosol can. The 100ml volume provides a substantial supply for ongoing use across multiple applications. The number of applications from a 100ml can depends on the size of the area treated and the number of coats applied at each treatment. For small localised areas, the 100ml can provides many applications over an extended period of use.

Critical Safety Points

• Flammable aerosol. Do not use near naked flames or sources of ignition.
• Do not spray near the eyes, mouth, nose, or other mucous membranes.
• Do not spray into wound cavities, sinuses, or deep wounds.
• Keep away from children.
• Do not puncture or incinerate the can, even when empty.
• Store away from heat and direct sunlight.

When Not to Use Opsite Spray

• Infected wounds without clinical guidance on appropriate management.
• Known sensitivity to the film-forming polymer or other spray components.
• On skin that is wet, heavily exuding, or contaminated at the time of application.

Adverse Effects

• Skin reaction or sensitivity in individuals allergic to the spray components.
• Stinging sensation on application to damaged or broken skin.
• Skin occlusion and maceration if the film is allowed to build up excessively without assessment of the skin beneath.

Situations Where Opsite Spray Is Appropriate

• Protection of minor wounds, abrasions, and skin breaks in locations where a conventional dressing is impractical
• Protection of periwound skin surrounding wound dressings where moisture, exudate, or bodily fluids contact the skin outside the primary dressing
• Skin protection for patients at risk of moisture associated skin damage, including incontinent patients and those with heavily exuding wounds
• Protection of skin at stoma sites or catheter entry points where moisture contact with surrounding skin is a recurring management challenge
• Wound surface protection for small superficial wounds or abrasions where a bulky dressing is not appropriate
• Adults and children, with care to avoid contact with mucous membranes

Opsite Spray vs Conventional Film Dressings

Opsite Spray Dressing and the conventional Opsite film dressings serve related but different clinical needs. Conventional film dressings such as Opsite Film Dressing and Opsite Flexifix are applied as physical sheets or strips and can be removed as a single piece. They provide a defined, consistent film thickness and a reliable adhesive border. Opsite Spray creates a film in situ without an adhesive border, conforms perfectly to any skin contour, can be applied to areas where a sheet film would not adhere, and wears away naturally. Choose spray when the site is irregular, inaccessible to sheet film, or where a bulkless cover is needed. Choose sheet film when a defined, removable, consistent film cover is the clinical requirement.

Opsite Spray Dressing does not require a prescription. The 100ml aerosol is available from Pharmacy Planet without a clinical consultation.

Our pharmacists can advise on Opsite Spray and on when a spray film or a conventional sheet film dressing is the more appropriate format for a specific wound or skin site.

For infected wounds, deeply broken skin, or complex wound management, seek clinical assessment alongside product purchase.

• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and sources of heat.
• Do not store above 25 degrees C.
• Do not store near naked flames or ignition sources.
• Keep the can upright.
• Do not puncture or incinerate the can even when empty.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Check expiry date before use.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy. Opsite Spray Dressing is a genuine Smith & Nephew product stocked through regulated UK supply chains.

Our pharmacists can advise on Opsite Spray and on the full Opsite range of film dressings for different wound and skin protection needs.

References

1. Smith & Nephew. Opsite Spray Dressing — Product Information. 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.