Direct comparison
DuoDERM vs Mepilex: Hydrocolloid vs Foam
DuoDERM vs Mepilex compared: hydrocolloid vs silicone foam, what FDA records show, and what one 2014 swine study did and did not find.
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Last updated
How do DuoDERM and Mepilex compare side by side?
The table below compares DuoDERM and Mepilex across 9 dimensions, from dressing class to when to pick each one.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | DuoDERM | Mepilex |
|---|---|---|
| Dressing class | Hydrocolloid dressing (Convatec brand). Described as a hydrocolloid in the swine study cited below. | Silicone-faced polyurethane foam dressing (Mölnlycke brand). Described that way in the same study. |
| Maker named on FDA 510(k) records | Convatec (records list Convatec, a division of E.R. Squibb & Sons, later Bristol-Myers Squibb). | Mölnlycke Health Care. |
| Earliest 510(k) decision date in openFDA | K841287, DuoDERM Flexible Hydroactive Dressings, 20 August 1984. | K983184, Mepilex, 28 October 1998. |
| FDA product codes on those records | Several: FRO, NAD, KMF, KMK, MGQ, KGX (varies by record; one record is an adhesive compression bandage). | MGP for the original Mepilex record; FRO for the Mepilex Ag records (K061554, K071354, K100029, K123892). |
| What the main product codes mean | NAD: Dressing, Wound, Occlusive, class I (21 CFR 878.4020). FRO: Dressing, Wound, Drug, class U (unclassified). | MGP: Dressing, Wound and Burn, Occlusive, class U (unclassified). FRO as for DuoDERM. |
| Label data in AccessGUDID (one record each) | DuoDERM CGF 15x15 cm (pack of 5): single use = yes; labelled natural rubber latex = no. | Mepilex Border Flex 12.5x12.5 cm: single use = yes; labelled natural rubber latex = no. |
| Head-to-head animal data (swine, donor-site wounds, day 3) | 81.3 ± 7.2% reepithelialization; the authors called DuoDERM among the most effective dressings overall. | 32.9 ± 4.2% reepithelialization, the lowest of the six dressings tested. |
| Limits of that evidence | Four pigs, partial-thickness wounds about 4 x 2 cm; pain not assessable; short term; pigs heal faster than humans. It is not a clinical ranking. | Same study, same limits. |
| When to pick each one | This page does not choose for you. Indications, wear time and exudate handling are in each manufacturer instructions for use (IFU) for the exact catalogue item. A clinician decides what suits a wound. | Same: use the IFU for the exact product, and ask a clinician about a specific wound. |
Sources
- openFDA 510(k), classification and UDI APIs
- 21 CFR 878.4020
- Masella et al. 2014, Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open (PMC4174104). All read 2026-11-02
- Same sources
- plus the Mölnlycke Mepilex Border Flex product page, read 2026-11-02
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Common questions
Common questions about DuoDERM vs Mepilex
Is DuoDERM the same as Mepilex?
+
No. DuoDERM is a hydrocolloid dressing made by Convatec; Mepilex is a silicone-faced polyurethane foam dressing made by Mölnlycke Health Care. FDA 510(k) records list them under separate applicants and, mostly, different product codes.
Mepilex vs DuoDERM: which heals faster?
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No clinical comparison was found. One 2014 study in four pigs measured reepithelialization of donor-site wounds at day 3: 81.3% for DuoDERM and 32.9% for Mepilex. The authors noted pigs heal faster than humans, pain could not be assessed, and the study was short-term and small, so it does not rank the products for people.
DuoDERM vs Exuderm: how do they differ?
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No manufacturer or FDA record for Exuderm was read for this page, so no product-level differences are stated. For what hydrocolloid dressings are, see the hydrocolloid wound care guide and the hydrogel vs hydrocolloid comparison.
Mepilex vs Tegaderm: what is the difference?
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Mepilex is a foam dressing. Tegaderm is a product line from 3M, so compare the exact Tegaderm product, not the brand. The Tegaderm guide on this site explains what the line is used for.
Do DuoDERM and Mepilex contain natural rubber latex?
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In the AccessGUDID records read (DuoDERM CGF 15x15 cm and Mepilex Border Flex 12.5x12.5 cm) both are labelled as not containing natural rubber latex. That is one record each; check the label of the exact item.
Are these dressings FDA approved?
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The records are 510(k) clearances, not approvals, and many are decades old, so they do not describe current product lines. Check the 510(k) number and AccessGUDID entry for the exact catalogue item.
