Molnlycke Mepilex Lite Foam Dressing — Non-Bordered, Cuttable, Safetac Silicone, 4 Sizes

A thin, highly conformable non-bordered foam dressing with Safetac® silicone — and the only foam dressing recommended by MASCC for managing acute radiation dermatitis. Mepilex Lite is Molnlycke's borderless soft silicone foam dressing, designed for low- to moderately exuding acute and chronic wounds where a self-adherent bordered dressing either doesn't fit the wound geometry or isn't clinically appropriate. Its three-layer construction — Safetac silicone wound contact layer, thin polyurethane foam core, and breathable backing film — delivers a moist wound environment, minimal maceration risk, and atraumatic dressing changes across a wide range of wound types. Because it has no pre-set border, Mepilex Lite can be cut to any shape with scissors without compromising the silicone layer or dressing integrity, making it the go-to choice for irregular wounds, awkward contours, and radiation-affected skin that requires custom sizing. Available in four sizes.

✔ Non-Bordered — Cut to Any Shape Without Compromising the Dressing    ✔ Safetac® Silicone — Seals Wound Margins, Pain-Free Atraumatic Removal    ✔ MASCC-Recommended for Acute Radiation Dermatitis Management    ✔ Thin & Highly Conformable — Molds to Uneven Surfaces, Fragile & Irradiated Skin

Product Details & Available Sizes

Indicated For — Wound Types & Applications

• Acute radiation dermatitis and radiation-induced skin reactions — including moist desquamation from breast cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and other radiotherapy treatment sites
• Low- to moderately exuding acute wounds — post-surgical incisions, lacerations, abrasions, skin tears
• Chronic wounds with low exudate — venous ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries in early or low-exuding stages
• Fragile or compromised periwound skin where bordered dressings or standard adhesives would cause stripping or trauma
• Irregular wound shapes and anatomically difficult sites where a non-bordered, cuttable dressing is required for coverage
• Wounds on patients with known adhesive sensitivity or history of skin reactions to standard adhesive dressings
• Donor sites and partial thickness burns requiring a gentle, non-adherent wound interface

Mepilex Lite & Radiation Dermatitis — The Clinical Evidence

Radiation dermatitis is among the most challenging wound management problems in oncology care. Erythema occurs in 80–90% of women undergoing breast cancer radiotherapy, and moist desquamation — which is painful, infection-prone, and potentially dose-limiting — develops in a significant proportion of patients receiving radical radiotherapy for breast cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and other tumor sites. There is no universally standardized treatment protocol, and standard wound dressings are poorly tolerated on irradiated skin due to adhesive trauma on removal.

Mepilex Lite has been investigated in multiple controlled clinical trials for radiation dermatitis and has been specifically recommended by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) for managing acute radiation dermatitis. The Safetac silicone layer is the mechanism behind this clinical utility: it seals wound margins and maintains a moist healing environment on acutely irradiated skin without adhering to the wound surface or stripping fragile, compromised tissue on removal — addressing the core clinical challenge of dressing management in this patient population.

• MASCC-recommended for managing acute radiation dermatitis — the primary international oncology supportive care guideline body
• Clinically studied in breast cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma radiotherapy patients
• Safetac silicone layer does not adhere to acutely irradiated, fragile wound beds — atraumatic removal on the most sensitive skin
• Maintains a moist wound environment to support healing during and after the radiotherapy course
• Can be applied directly to the treatment field and worn continuously — clinically proven to reduce the severity of radiation skin reactions

Non-Bordered Design — Why It Matters

Most foam dressings in the Mepilex family are bordered — they have a defined adhesive silicone perimeter that holds the dressing in place without secondary fixation. This works well on flat, accessible wound beds. Mepilex Lite is non-bordered: the entire face of the dressing is the Safetac silicone layer, with no separate adhesive border zone. This makes it the correct choice in several specific situations where a bordered dressing would be clinically suboptimal.

• Radiation therapy fields: The treatment area is often large, irregularly shaped, and may extend across the breast, neck, or other contoured anatomy. A non-bordered dressing can be cut to match the exact treatment field without leaving uncovered margins or requiring multiple overlapping dressings
• Fragile and irradiated skin: Bordered foam dressings apply concentrated adhesive force at the perimeter. On acutely irradiated skin or patients with significant skin fragility, this border adhesion can cause epidermal stripping on removal — particularly problematic in a population already experiencing skin breakdown. Mepilex Lite's distributed, low-tack silicone layer across the full dressing face avoids this entirely
• Irregular and complex wound geometries: Wounds on curved body surfaces, irregular scar tissue, or unusual anatomical locations often can't be cleanly covered by a pre-cut square or rectangle. Mepilex Lite can be cut with ordinary scissors to any shape required — triangle, oval, custom contour — without compromising the silicone layer or the dressing's absorbent capacity
• Secondary dressing use: Mepilex Lite can be used as a non-adherent wound contact layer over wound fillers, gels, or cavity packing in deeper wounds, held in place with Mepitac silicone tape or a light retention bandage

How Mepilex Lite Is Constructed

• Layer 1 — Safetac® Soft Silicone Wound Contact Layer: The full-face silicone layer conforms to the wound bed and periwound surface, sealing wound margins to contain exudate and prevent leakage. Does not bond to the wound bed or fragile granulating tissue — releases cleanly on removal without stripping epidermal cells or disrupting healing tissue
• Layer 2 — Thin Polyurethane Foam Absorbent Pad: A flexible, thin foam core that absorbs exudate from the wound bed and holds it away from the wound surface, maintaining a moist environment while preventing pooling or periwound maceration
• Layer 3 — Breathable Water-Resistant Film Backing: A moisture-vapor-permeable polyurethane film that allows the wound to breathe, preventing overhydration under the dressing, while providing a barrier to external liquid and contamination

Application & Use Guide

• Cleanse the wound and dry the surrounding skin — for radiation dermatitis, follow oncology team guidance on skin preparation and cleansing
• If cutting to fit: measure the wound or treatment field first, then cut the dressing to shape with clean scissors — the Safetac layer is continuous across the full dressing face and cutting does not create an exposed adhesive edge
• Apply Safetac side down directly over the wound — press gently against the periwound skin to seal wound margins
• Secure with Mepitac silicone tape or a light retention bandage — Mepilex Lite is non-adherent and requires external fixation to stay in place
• Change when exudate approaches saturation, or per clinical protocol — wear time depends on exudate level and wound condition
• Remove by lifting gently from a corner — Safetac releases atraumatically without stripping or tearing
• For radiation dermatitis: follow the radiotherapy team's protocol for frequency of assessment and dressing change during the course of treatment

Choosing the Right Size

• 2.4" x 3" (284090) — Smallest size — for small acute wounds, skin tears, minor abrasions, small radiation field patches, or targeted low-exudate wound sites. 5 per box
• 4" x 4" (284190) — Standard square — the most common general-purpose size; covers the majority of everyday acute and chronic wound sites with room to trim if needed. 5 per box
• 6" x 6" (284390) — Medium square — for larger wound surfaces, wider radiation treatment fields, donor sites, or wounds requiring more surface area coverage. 5 per box
• 8" x 20" (284599) — Large rectangle — maximum coverage for extended radiation fields (breast, chest wall, neck), large burns, extensive donor sites, or any wound requiring full Mepilex Lite coverage over a large area. Can be cut to any sub-dimensions required. 4 per box

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

Why Buy From Medical Department Store?

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Questions about Mepilex Lite or any of our foam dressings? Call 1-866-218-0902 — our team is ready to help.