ALLEVYN GENTLE BORDER

For patients with fragile or sensitive skin, the experience of a dressing change matters as much as how the dressing performs between changes. ALLEVYN Gentle Border is a soft silicone adhesive foam dressing from Smith+Nephew designed to combine effective exudate management with a gentler experience at application and removal. A soft silicone wound contact layer sits directly on the wound surface, and a soft silicone adhesive border holds the dressing in place without the stronger bond of a standard acrylic adhesive. It contains no silver and no antimicrobial agent. It is available in twelve configurations including standard flat sizes, a multisite format, two sacrum shapes, and a heel shape. No prescription is required.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border is a regulated Class IIb medical device from Smith+Nephew. It is a three-layer self-adhesive foam dressing. The innermost layer is a soft silicone wound contact surface that lies directly on the wound bed. The central layer is a hydrocellular polyurethane foam that absorbs and retains wound exudate. The outer layer is a moisture vapour permeable film backing that allows moisture vapour to escape while remaining waterproof to external fluids. The integrated soft silicone adhesive border holds the dressing in place without requiring a separate secondary dressing.

The name "Gentle Border" describes two silicone features working together. The silicone wound contact layer does not bond to moist wound tissue, allowing the dressing to be lifted away from the wound surface without pulling on the wound bed or disrupting granulation tissue. The silicone adhesive border does not form the strong chemical bond that standard acrylic adhesives form with skin, allowing the border to be repositioned during application and removed with significantly less force and less risk of skin stripping.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border contains no silver and no antimicrobial agent. It is a purely physical dressing for exudate management, moist wound healing, and atraumatic wound contact. It is the non-antimicrobial equivalent of ALLEVYN Ag Gentle Border, which adds silver sulfate for infection management. For wounds that are clean and progressing toward healing, where infection is not a clinical concern, ALLEVYN Gentle Border provides the gentle contact and adhesion properties without the antimicrobial component.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border is indicated for use on moderately to heavily exuding wounds including pressure ulcers, venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, post operative wounds, skin tears, and acute wounds in patients whose periwound skin is sensitive or fragile. The range of twelve configurations makes it one of the most versatile self-adhesive foam dressings available, with dedicated shapes for the sacrum, heel, and multisite wounds in addition to the standard flat sizes.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border contains no antimicrobial agent. If the wound shows signs of infection, increasing pain, spreading redness, warmth, offensive odour, or a wound that is deteriorating, seek clinical assessment. ALLEVYN Ag Gentle Border, which contains silver sulfate, may be more appropriate for infected or at-risk wounds.

Soft Silicone Wound Contact Layer

The wound facing surface of ALLEVYN Gentle Border is coated with soft silicone. Silicone does not bond to moist wound tissue. When the dressing is placed on the wound, the silicone surface maintains gentle contact without adherence, allowing exudate to pass through into the absorbent foam core while the dressing can be removed without disrupting the wound bed. This is particularly important during the healing phases when granulation tissue and new epithelium are forming, where disruption at dressing changes can delay recovery and cause unnecessary pain.

Hydrocellular Foam Absorbent Core

The foam core absorbs wound exudate drawn through the silicone wound contact layer and holds it away from the wound surface. This prevents maceration of the wound bed and periwound skin, maintains a moist wound healing environment at the wound contact surface, and manages moderate to heavy exudate through the dressing wear period. The foam retains absorbed fluid under light compression, reducing the risk of exudate being returned to the wound when the dressing is compressed or covered with a bandage.

Soft Silicone Adhesive Border

The border of ALLEVYN Gentle Border uses soft silicone rather than a standard acrylic adhesive. Soft silicone forms a physical seal against intact periwound skin through contact and surface tension. Unlike acrylic adhesive, which forms a chemical bond with the skin surface, silicone can be lifted and repositioned without losing adhesion and removed with significantly less force. This reduces the risk of skin stripping, particularly important for elderly patients, those on long-term steroids, patients with skin conditions affecting skin integrity, or anyone whose periwound skin has been weakened by moisture or previous dressing changes.

Moisture Vapour Permeable Film Backing

The outer film layer allows moisture vapour from absorbed exudate to escape through the dressing, maintaining absorbent capacity throughout the wear period. The film is waterproof to external fluids, so patients can shower with the dressing in place.

Before Application

• Wash hands and use appropriate gloves.
• Clean the wound with sterile saline or as directed by a healthcare professional.
• Gently dry the periwound skin. The silicone border adheres best to dry intact periwound skin.
• Do not apply creams, lotions, or oil-based products to the area where the border will contact the skin.

Application

• Select the appropriate size and configuration so the foam pad covers the entire wound and the silicone border rests on intact periwound skin on all sides.
• Remove the release liner from the silicone border and apply the dressing over the wound.
• The silicone border can be repositioned during application without losing adhesion, a practical advantage when positioning anatomically shaped variants.
• Press the border gently onto the surrounding skin to ensure a consistent seal.
• No secondary dressing is required for most wound locations.

Wear Time and Removal

• ALLEVYN Gentle Border can be worn for up to seven days depending on exudate levels. Change earlier if exudate approaches the edge of the foam pad or the border lifts.
• To remove, lift one edge of the silicone border slowly and peel back parallel to the skin surface. The silicone border releases with less resistance than acrylic adhesive.
• Support the periwound skin gently with one hand while peeling the border with the other, particularly for patients with fragile skin.
• Patients can shower while wearing ALLEVYN Gentle Border. The film backing is waterproof to external fluids. Avoid prolonged immersion such as baths or swimming. Pat the dressing dry after showering. If the border lifts after showering, press back down while the skin is slightly warm.

Standard Flat Sizes

ALLEVYN Gentle Border 7.5cm x 7.5cm — Pack of 10

Suitable for small wounds, digit wounds, localised pressure ulcers, and smaller acute wounds. The compact size provides precise coverage with an adequately sized silicone border on intact periwound skin.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border 10cm x 10cm — Pack of 10

A versatile small-to-medium size suitable for moderate pressure ulcers, smaller venous leg ulcer areas, acute wounds, and post-operative sites. A commonly used size across community and clinical wound care settings.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border 12.5cm x 12.5cm — Pack of 10

A medium size suitable for moderate-sized chronic wounds including venous leg ulcers and pressure ulcers, and for larger post-operative wound sites.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border 15cm x 15cm — Pack of 10

A larger square size for wounds requiring broader coverage than the 12.5cm x 12.5cm but not the extended area of the larger flat or shaped variants.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border 17.5cm x 17.5cm — Pack of 10

Suitable for larger pressure ulcers, extended chronic wound areas, and post operative wounds requiring a broad foam pad with an adequately sized silicone border margin.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border 10cm x 20cm — Pack of 10

A rectangular size suited to elongated wounds including lower leg ulcers, longer post-operative sites, and wounds where a rectangular coverage format is more appropriate than a square.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border 10cm x 25cm — Pack of 10

A longer rectangular size for extended lower leg ulcers and other elongated wound areas where greater length coverage is needed. Suitable for wounds spanning a significant portion of the lower leg.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border 10cm x 30cm — Pack of 10

The longest standard flat configuration, for extensive elongated wounds including large lower leg ulcers and long post-operative sites. Provides broad foam coverage along the wound length within a manageable width.

Anatomically Shaped Configurations

ALLEVYN Gentle Border Multisite 17.1cm x 17.9cm — Pack of 10

The Multisite configuration is a shaped format designed for anatomically challenging locations where standard flat dressings do not conform adequately. It is suited to wounds on or near joints, bony prominences, and areas where the dressing needs to accommodate body contours. The 17.1cm x 17.9cm overall dimensions provide adequate coverage across multisite wound locations.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border Sacrum 16.8cm x 17.1cm — Pack of 10

A contoured sacral shape designed for the sacrum and coccygeal area, where the curved anatomy prevents standard flat dressings from conforming and adhering adequately. This smaller of the two sacrum sizes suits moderate sacral wounds. The contoured silicone border follows the natural curves of the lower back and gluteal area.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border Sacrum 21.6cm x 23cm — Pack of 10

The larger sacrum configuration for more extensive sacral and coccygeal wounds where greater foam pad coverage is needed. Both sacrum sizes are shaped to conform to the sacral anatomy. For infected or at-risk sacral wounds, ALLEVYN Ag Sacrum provides the same anatomical shaping with silver sulfate antimicrobial activity.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border Heel 23cm x 23.3cm — Pack of 5

A contoured heel configuration designed to wrap around the heel and posterior ankle area. The shaped format provides better coverage and stability on the curved heel anatomy than a standard flat dressing. Pack of 5. For infected or at-risk heel wounds, ALLEVYN Ag Heel provides silver sulfate antimicrobial activity in a similarly contoured heel format.

Do Not Use ALLEVYN Gentle Border If

• The patient has a known allergy or hypersensitivity to silicone or any component of the dressing.
• The wound is actively infected. ALLEVYN Gentle Border has no antimicrobial function. Consider ALLEVYN Ag Gentle Border or another antimicrobial dressing.
• The wound is dry or minimally exuding. An absorbent foam dressing may desiccate a dry wound surface.

Precautions

• ALLEVYN Gentle Border is a single use product. Do not reuse or reapply a used dressing.
• Reassess at each dressing change. If the wound develops signs of infection, consider switching to an antimicrobial dressing.
• Do not stretch the dressing during application. Applying under tension can cause pressure on the periwound skin under the border.
• Do not use MRI scanning with the dressing in place. Remove before MRI procedures.

Adverse Effects

• Skin sensitivity or irritation at the silicone border. Silicone is generally well tolerated but reactions can occur. Discontinue if persistent.
• Wound bed desiccation if exudate levels fall significantly during treatment.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border Is Suitable For

• Patients with moderately to heavily exuding chronic and acute wounds who have fragile or sensitive periwound skin where standard acrylic adhesive borders may cause trauma at removal
• Pressure ulcers, venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and post operative wounds where both effective exudate management and gentle border adhesion are clinical priorities
• Skin tears and fragile wound beds where atraumatic removal of the wound contact surface is important
• Patients who have experienced pain or skin damage with standard adhesive dressings
• Adults and children under healthcare professional supervision

Standard flat sizes suit most body locations. The rectangular sizes (10x20, 10x25, 10x30cm) suit elongated wounds on the lower leg. The Multisite configuration suits joints and bony prominences. The Sacrum sizes (16.8x17.1cm and 21.6x23cm) suit sacral and coccygeal wounds, choose based on wound size. The Heel configuration suits heel and posterior ankle wounds. For infected or at-risk wounds in any of these locations, the ALLEVYN Ag range (Ag Gentle Border, Ag Sacrum, Ag Heel) provides silver sulfate antimicrobial activity in the same format.

ALLEVYN Gentle Border is a regulated medical device and does not require a prescription. It can be purchased directly through Pharmacy Planet without a clinical consultation. It is available in all twelve configurations listed above.

Pharmacy Planet stocks the full ALLEVYN Gentle Border range alongside the full ALLEVYN Ag range and a comprehensive selection of wound care products. Our pharmacists can advise on the most appropriate configuration and size for a specific wound location and type.

For complex wounds or wounds that are not healing as expected, seek clinical assessment from a tissue viability nurse, district nurse, or GP alongside your dressing purchase.

• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture.
• Store below 25°C.
• Keep in the original sealed packaging until immediately before use.
• Each dressing is individually sterile packed. Do not use if the packaging is damaged or compromised.
• Check the expiry date before use. Do not use after the expiry date.
• Once opened, apply immediately.
• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Dispose of used dressings as clinical waste in accordance with local guidelines.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy stocking the full ALLEVYN Gentle Border range across all twelve configurations. We also stock the ALLEVYN Ag range for infected or at-risk wounds and ALLEVYN Gentle for non-adhesive silicone wound contact dressing needs.

All products are genuine and sourced through regulated supply chains. Our pharmacists are available to advise on configuration selection, wear time, and when clinical referral for wound assessment is appropriate.

References

1. Smith+Nephew. ALLEVYN Gentle Border Wound Dressing — Instructions for Use. Smith+Nephew Medical Ltd. https://www.smith-nephew.com. Accessed May 2026.
2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Pressure ulcers: prevention and management (CG179). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg179. Accessed May 2026.
3. Wounds UK. Best Practice Statement: Wound exudate — effective assessment and management. https://www.wounds-uk.com. Accessed May 2026.
4. NHS. Pressure sores (pressure ulcers). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pressure-sores. Accessed May 2026.