Waterproof, Silicone and Silver Foam in Bordered and Non-Bordered
A foam dressing absorbs exudate into an open-cell polyurethane structure while keeping the wound surface moist, and it cushions, which is why foam is the default for moderate to heavy exudate and for wounds over pressure points. This collection carries nine Dynarex foam dressings in waterproof, silicone and silver variants, in bordered and non-bordered formats.
Foam works by drawing fluid up and away from the wound surface into the body of the dressing rather than holding it against the skin. That vertical wicking is what separates it from a gauze pad, which saturates and then holds the fluid where it sits, and it is the reason foam handles a wound that would macerate under a simpler dressing.
→ Part of Advanced Dressings. Also see Hydrogel Dressings, Gauze & Bandages and All Wound Care.
Bordered or Non-Bordered?
| Bordered | Non-bordered | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixation | Built-in adhesive margin | Requires a separate retention layer |
| Application | One step | Two steps |
| Profile | Lower, self-contained | Depends on the fixation used |
| Suits | Most routine use; intact peri-wound skin | Fragile or adhesive-intolerant skin; awkward sites |
The case for non-bordered is not cost. It is control over what touches the skin around the wound. Where the peri-wound skin is already compromised, adding an adhesive margin to it at every dressing change is how a manageable wound acquires a second problem around its edge.
Bordered: the 3022 DynaLevin waterproof bordered at 6 x 6 and the 3038 DynaFoam waterproof bordered at 6 x 6. Non-bordered: the 3025 FoamFlex at 6 x 6, supplied 10 per box and 12 boxes per case.
Waterproof Backing
A waterproof outer film keeps external fluid and bacteria out while still letting moisture vapour escape from the dressing, which means the patient can shower without changing the dressing.
That sounds like a comfort feature and it is partly that, but it also affects healing indirectly. A patient who can wash normally keeps to a routine; a patient who has to arrange their week around dressing changes and sponge baths tends to disturb the dressing, delay changes, or improvise waterproofing that traps moisture against the skin.
The semi-permeable behaviour is the important part. A fully occlusive cover would trap vapour and macerate the skin underneath; a vapour-permeable film lets the dressing breathe outward while blocking liquid inward.
Silicone Contact Layers
Silicone adheres gently to intact skin but releases from moist wound tissue, so removal lifts the dressing without stripping new epithelium or tearing the skin around the wound.
Conventional adhesive does not distinguish. It bonds to whatever it touches, including fresh granulation tissue and the fragile skin of an older patient, and each removal takes some of it. Over a wound dressed three times a week for months, that repeated trauma is not incidental damage; it is a meaningful part of why some wounds stall.
Silicone is therefore the specification to look for in three situations: older patients with thin skin, anyone on long-term corticosteroids, and any wound where previous dressing removals have caused skin tears or bleeding at the margin.
Options: the 3059 DURMA SiliGentle silicone bordered at 4 x 4 and the SiliGentle silicone foam in bordered and non-bordered versions.
Silicone also allows a dressing to be lifted and repositioned during application without losing its tack, which matters when placing a dressing on an awkward contour.
Silver Foam Dressings
Silver foam combines the absorbency of foam with silver ions released into the wound to reduce bacterial burden, and it is indicated where infection or heavy bioburden is the problem rather than as a routine dressing.
Two practical points. Silver dressings cost substantially more than their plain equivalents, so using them by default consumes budget without clinical return. And antimicrobial use where it is not indicated adds resistance pressure. Guidance generally treats silver as a time-limited intervention reviewed against wound progress rather than a standing choice, and that review belongs with the treating clinician.
Options: the 3047 CuraFoam AG silver foam, 4 x 4 sterile, the 3049 DynaFoam AG bordered silver foam, 4 x 4 sterile and the SiliGentle AG silicone foam, which pairs a silicone contact layer with silver for a wound that needs both gentle removal and antimicrobial action.
Burn Dressings
The Dynarex Code Blue XeroBurn sterile burn dressing is formulated for burn coverage, which is a distinct requirement: burns are painful to dress, produce significant exudate in the early phase, and the dressing needs to come away without disturbing the surface. Burn management is a clinical pathway with its own assessment and referral thresholds, and a dressing is one element within it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a foam dressing work?
It draws exudate up and away from the wound surface into an open-cell polyurethane structure, rather than holding fluid against the skin. That vertical wicking is what separates foam from a gauze pad, which saturates and then keeps the fluid where it sits. Foam also cushions, which matters over bony prominences and anywhere the wound takes pressure.
Bordered or non-bordered foam dressing?
Bordered has a built-in adhesive margin, applies in one step and sits lower, which suits most routine use where the peri-wound skin is intact. Non-bordered requires a separate retention layer but lets you choose what touches the skin around the wound. Where that skin is already compromised, adding adhesive to it at every change is how a manageable wound acquires a second problem at its edge.
What does waterproof mean on a foam dressing?
The outer film blocks liquid and bacteria from entering while still letting moisture vapour escape outward, so the patient can shower without changing the dressing. The semi-permeability matters: a fully occlusive cover would trap vapour and macerate the skin underneath, while a vapour-permeable film lets the dressing breathe outward while blocking liquid inward.
Why choose a silicone foam dressing?
Silicone adheres to intact skin but releases from moist wound tissue, so removal does not strip new epithelium or tear fragile peri-wound skin. Conventional adhesive bonds to whatever it touches, including fresh granulation tissue, and takes some of it each time. Over a wound dressed three times a week for months, that repeated trauma is a meaningful reason some wounds stall.
Who most needs a silicone contact layer?
Three groups in particular: older patients with thin skin, anyone on long-term corticosteroids, and any patient whose previous dressing removals have caused skin tears or bleeding at the wound margin. If adhesive removal has already caused damage once, it will do so again, and the contact layer is the variable to change.
When is a silver foam dressing appropriate?
Where infection or heavy bacterial burden is the identified problem, not as a default. Silver costs substantially more than the plain equivalent, so routine use consumes budget without clinical return, and antimicrobial use where it is not indicated adds resistance pressure. Guidance generally treats silver as time-limited and reviewed against wound progress, with that review belonging to the treating clinician.
What size foam dressing should I use?
The dressing should extend beyond the wound margin onto intact skin so the absorbent pad covers the whole wound with room to spare, and a bordered dressing needs enough intact skin around the wound for its adhesive margin to seat properly. Sizing too close to the wound edge means exudate escapes at the margin, which is where maceration starts.
How often should a foam dressing be changed?
Change frequency follows the wound and the care plan rather than a fixed schedule, and it is set by the treating clinician. As a general principle, foam is designed to stay in place for longer than gauze, and unnecessary changes disturb the wound bed and cost dressing material. Strikethrough, meaning exudate reaching the outer surface, and loss of adhesion are the usual practical prompts.
Can foam dressings be used on dry wounds?
Foam is an absorbent dressing, so on a wound producing little or no exudate it has nothing to do and may dry the surface further. A dry or minimally exuding wound generally calls for a dressing that donates moisture instead, such as a hydrogel. Matching absorbency to exudate is the core selection principle across the whole advanced dressing range.
Is foam used for pressure ulcer prevention?
Foam is used both to dress pressure damage and, in some protocols, prophylactically over at-risk bony prominences, because the cushioning redistributes pressure and the dressing manages moisture at the skin surface. Whether prophylactic use is part of your pathway is a protocol question for your tissue viability or nursing lead rather than a general recommendation.
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