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General product information only, not medical advice. Wound care decisions belong to a qualified clinician; always follow the instructions for use (IFU) packed with the product.
Short answer
Mepitel is a Mölnlycke Health Care brand of silicone wound contact layer: a thin, open-mesh dressing that sits directly on a wound and is covered by a separate absorbent pad. According to the manufacturer’s IFU, it is a silicone-coated polyamide mesh made to reduce pain and trauma when the dressing is removed, while exudate passes through the holes into the pad above.
Definition and scope
A wound contact layer is the dressing that touches the wound bed. It is not meant to absorb fluid itself. Its job is to separate the wound from whatever absorbent or protective dressing sits on top. Mepitel is one named product in this group. The IFU describes it as a silicone-coated polyamide mesh, protected on both sides by polyethylene films that are removed before use, and made from medical-grade polyethylene, polydimethylsiloxane and polyamide 6.
The manufacturer calls its silicone coating technology Safetac, described in the IFU as a soft silicone adhesive technology designed to minimize pain to the patient and trauma to the wound and surrounding skin at dressing removal. For the material itself, see what silicone adhesive is in medical skin use.
Searchers also use the generic phrases “silicone contact layer” and “wound contact layer dressing”. Those describe a category; Mepitel is a brand within it. This page covers the Mepitel product described in the IFU below, not every product sold under those generic names.
How it works with a secondary dressing
The IFU explains the design in terms of the mesh. Its microporous, open structure lets exudate flow vertically into the secondary absorbent dressing, which prevents exudate from spreading sideways, and reduces the need for frequent changes of the primary dressing. That creates a division of roles: the contact layer is the part that touches the wound, and the secondary pad is the part that absorbs. The IFU also states that the product is a dressing that can be used alone. Application is a clinical task and this page does not reproduce it step by step; follow the IFU packed with the product and the direction of a qualified clinician.
Wound types named in the IFU
The IFU says the product is intended for the management of skin tears, skin abrasions, surgical incisions, traumatic wounds, second-degree burns, epidermolysis bullosa, partial and full thickness grafts, and diabetic, venous or arterial ulcers. Whether it suits a particular wound is a decision for a clinician.
Types and related concepts
Mepitel sits among non-adherent and low-adherent primary dressings. The distinction that matters is the contact material. Silicone-coated mesh dressings such as Mepitel are not the same as oil-emulsion impregnated gauze such as Adaptic. Compare them in what Adaptic is and the broader non-adherent dressing guide, which also covers the FDA classification of the category and cites an independent hand-surgery trial that compared Mepitel with Jelonet. That is a single trial in one setting and should not be read as a general ranking.
Mölnlycke makes other products under related names, such as Mepitel One. This page does not describe their specifications. For a general overview of where a contact layer fits among dressing types, see what a wound dressing is.
Supply and labelling facts
The contact layer and the secondary pad are two separate items. The facts below, taken from the Mepitel IFU, are the ones worth checking on any contact layer label or packaging insert:
| Item on the IFU | What the Mepitel IFU states |
|---|---|
| Sterility | Ethylene oxide sterilised, supplied sterile; do not re-sterilise |
| Use | Single use; do not use if the package is damaged or opened |
| Shelf life | 3 years |
| Storage | Room temperature, dry environment |
| Model and size list | Market-specific. The IFU version cited here lists 5 x 7.5 cm, 7.5 x 10 cm, 10 x 18 cm and 20 x 30 cm |
| Manufacturer | Mölnlycke Health Care AB, Mölndal, Sweden; manufactured in Mikkeli, Finland |
The IFU is also market-specific. The version cited on this page is the China-market IFU, version 20163315 REV.5WF, dated July 30, 2025, which carries NMPA registration information. It is not the US label, so size lists and registration statements can differ by country. Read the IFU supplied with the product in your own market.
US regulatory record
The US FDA 510(k) database lists K914604, “Mepitel Non-Adherent Silicone Dressing”, applicant Mölnlycke Clinical Products AB, decision date 1992-03-25, product code NAB. That is a 1992 record for an earlier product listing and does not by itself describe the clearance status of any current product. The Class I explanation for product code NAB is on the non-adherent dressing page.
Common misunderstandings
- “It absorbs the exudate.” The mesh lets exudate pass through; the secondary pad does the absorbing.
- “Silicone contact layer is one product.” It is a category; Mepitel is one brand within it.
FAQ
What is Mepitel used for?
Per the manufacturer’s IFU, it is a silicone-coated mesh wound contact layer. The IFU lists wound types it is intended for, summarised above. A clinician decides whether it suits a given wound.
What is a silicone contact layer?
It is a thin perforated dressing coated with silicone that sits directly on the wound and is covered by an absorbent secondary dressing. Mepitel is one example.
Is Mepitel supplied sterile?
Yes. The IFU says it is ethylene oxide sterilised, supplied sterile and single use, and should not be used if the package is damaged or opened.
Sources
- Mölnlycke Health Care, Mepitel Silicone Wound Contact Layer instructions for use, version 20163315 REV.5WF (China-market, July 30, 2025). molnlycke.com IFU PDF. Date checked: 2026-10-30.
- US FDA, 510(k) premarket notification K914604, via openFDA. Date checked: 2026-10-30.
