3M Tegaderm Non-Adherent Contact Layer Dressing — Woven Nylon, Hypoallergenic, Pain-Free Dressing Changes, 3 Sizes

Protect the wound. Pass the exudate. Leave the tissue alone. The 3M Tegaderm Non-Adherent Contact Layer is a primary wound dressing made from a woven nylon fabric with sealed edges — lint-free, non-toxic, non-irritating, and hypoallergenic — designed to sit directly on the wound bed while allowing exudate to pass freely through to a secondary absorbent dressing underneath. Unlike gauze that bonds to healing tissue and disrupts granulation on removal, Tegaderm Contact Layer stays in place without adhering, maintaining an optimal moist wound environment throughout wear without causing trauma at dressing changes. Silicone-edged construction gently holds the contact layer against periwound skin unassisted, making secondary dressing application cleaner and more secure. Can be worn up to 7 days and cut to any shape or size for a precise fit over irregular wounds.

✔ Woven Nylon Fabric — Lint-Free, Non-Toxic, Non-Irritating    ✔ Non-Adherent — Won't Bond to Wound Bed, Zero Tissue Disruption on Removal    ✔ Hypoallergenic — Safe for Sensitive and Fragile Wound Environments    ✔ Passes Exudate Freely to Secondary Dressing    ✔ Cut to Size — Fits Any Wound Shape or Dimension

Product Details

Indicated For — Wound Types

• Partial thickness wounds — abrasions, skin tears, superficial burns
• Full thickness wounds — pressure ulcers, venous and arterial leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers
• Granulating wounds where tissue disruption on dressing removal is a concern
• Re-epithelializing wounds requiring a protective non-adherent interface layer
• Surgical wounds and donor sites requiring a gentle primary contact layer
• Wounds on sensitive or fragile skin where standard gauze causes trauma
• Any wound requiring a moist environment with free drainage to a secondary dressing

Note: A secondary absorbent dressing is required over the contact layer. For infected wounds use only under the direction of a healthcare professional.

How Tegaderm Contact Layer Works — What Makes It Different

Gauze is the default wound contact material in most care settings — but gauze has a significant clinical drawback: it bonds to healing tissue. As granulation tissue forms and new epithelium develops, gauze fibers integrate into that tissue. Every dressing change tears away the very healing the wound has accomplished, causing pain, bleeding, and setback to the healing process. Tegaderm Contact Layer eliminates this problem entirely. The woven nylon construction creates an open fabric matrix that allows wound exudate to pass freely upward into the secondary absorbent dressing, while the nylon itself — smooth, sealed-edge, non-fibrous — forms no bond with wound tissue at any stage of healing. The result is a dressing change that removes cleanly and completely every time, with no disruption to granulation tissue, no pain from tearing, and no delay to healing.

• Woven nylon matrix allows free passage of exudate upward into secondary dressing — wound bed stays clean and moist
• Sealed edges prevent fraying and lint contamination of the wound bed
• Non-adherent surface forms no bond with granulating tissue or re-epithelializing surfaces at any healing stage
• Hypoallergenic and non-irritating — safe for extended use on sensitive, fragile, or reactive wound tissue
• Silicone edge construction gently holds the contact layer against periwound skin unassisted — simplifies secondary dressing application
• Maintains optimal moist wound environment throughout the full wear period
• Can be cut to any shape without fraying or compromising the sealed-edge construction
• Up to 7 days wear — secondary dressing can be changed without disturbing the contact layer
• Sterile and latex-free — appropriate for all clinical and home wound care settings

The Woven Nylon Design — Why Material Matters in Contact Layer Dressings

Not all non-adherent contact layers are equal. Perforated film dressings create a non-adherent surface but restrict exudate flow to the holes only — leaving much of the wound surface without drainage. Petrolatum gauze prevents adhesion but can macerate periwound skin and leave residue. Tegaderm Contact Layer uses a purpose-woven nylon fabric — an open, breathable mesh that distributes exudate passage evenly across the entire dressing surface, prevents linting and fiber contamination, and maintains its structural integrity even when cut to shape. The sealed edges are a critical detail: they prevent the cut edges from fraying and depositing loose fibers into the wound bed — a contamination risk that unsealable alternatives cannot eliminate.

• Open woven structure — even exudate passage across the full dressing surface, not just perforations
• Sealed edges — no fraying, no fiber contamination of the wound bed even after cutting
• Nylon construction — smooth, inert, no chemical sensitization risk over extended wear
• Transparent — wound can be visually monitored without removing the contact layer
• Flexible and conformable — drapes naturally over irregular wound surfaces and body contours

Choosing the Right Size

• 5642 — 3" x 4" — Smallest size — ideal for small wounds, finger and toe wounds, facial wounds, and compact pressure injuries where a precise fit over a limited area is needed
• 5643 — 3" x 8" — Narrow elongated — ideal for longer wounds on the lower leg, forearm, shin, or post-surgical incision sites requiring extended contact layer coverage
• 5644 — 8" x 10" — Large size — heavily exuding or broad wound surfaces, large pressure injuries, donor sites, and wounds requiring maximum contact layer coverage before cutting to shape

Tip: Select a size larger than the wound and cut to fit — sealed edges remain intact after cutting and the dressing should overlap onto intact periwound skin by approximately 1 inch on all sides.

Not sure which size is right for your wound? Call 1-866-218-0902 — Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm EST

Why Buy From Medical Department Store?

• 30+ years serving home medical, wound care, and clinical supply customers
• 110% Low Price Guarantee — we beat any competitor's price
• Medical supply specialists on the phone — not a call center
• Ships to all 50 states — 5 Southwest Florida locations for local pickup
• Full-service medical supply store — Home Medical Equipment, Mobility, Respiratory & Beds

Questions about Tegaderm Contact Layer or any of our wound care dressings? Call 1-866-218-0902 — our team is ready to help.