Real change, real outcomes1,2
Delivering real improvements in patient-centred care, for real people1-15
ALLEVYN LIFE Foam Dressings with unique EXUMASK™ Change Indicator can help optimise dressing change management1,2, with real world evidence highlighting an opportunity to make a real impact for your practice, patients and budgets1-7.
Promoting real results and patient outcomes
When implemented as part of standard care in real-world case studies, ALLEVYN LIFE Dressings demonstrated (compared to other dressings):
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Case study 1: Estimated cost saving of £48,349 and over 48,000 fewer foam dressings used over 8 months in one healthcare organisation5.
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Case study 2: Another healthcare organisation showed 89% of nurses had 1-2 fewer visits per week, with 130 weekly dressing change visits saved overall*7. |
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Case study 3: Through use of ALLEVYN LIFE and ALLEVYN Gentle Border, an NHS Trust was able to reduce routine dressing changes and cut foam dressing costs by £82,000**8. |
Real difference, by design
The unique EXUMASK™ Change Indicator offers a visual cue to let you and your patient know the best time to change the dressing9, to help avoid unnecessary changes.
Putting wound care back in the hands of patients and practices.

- Real patient care: EXUMASK Change Indicator can reduce unnecessary dressing change requests8, with a masking layer to hide unsightly exudate strikethrough10, helping improve patient confidence and experience1,3, compared to other dressings.
- Real clinical needs: Exudate management is key to optimising dressing changes and wear time11. ALLEVYN LIFE’s advanced exudate lock-in may help extend wear time by 79%, compared to other dressings2.
- Real change: As part of standard care, clinicians rated ALLEVYN LIFE Dressings better for over 90% of wounds6, and have been shown to save 2,500 nursing days per year, compared to other dressings2.
An advanced multi-layer construction, featuring a gentle silicone contact layer, hyper-absorbent core and unique EXUMASK Change Indicator.

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Facilitates optimal healing with a moist wound environment3,9,12 to promote granulation and epithelialisation3, minimising the risk of maceration3,9,12. |
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Provides a bacterial barrier13, proven to stay in place for up to 7 days***14. |
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Highly absorbent12,15 core facilitates advanced exudate lock-in3,12,16,17, to help minimise odour3,18,19, reduce leakage and enhance wear time3,14 by responding to patient exudate20. |
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Conformable3,18 and easy to lift or reposition21-23, with minimal pain and trauma on dressing removal3,4. |
Available in a range of anatomical shapes and sizes, to help dressings stay in place2,18.
Discover more about ALLEVYN LIFE, to make a real difference >
ALLEVYN LIFE in systematic, holistic and multidisciplinary daily practice.
Our new T.I.M.E. clinical decision support tool has been developed alongside expert clinicians to help give practitioners confidence in decision-making and reduce variations in clinical practice24,25. Find out more >
See how ALLEVYN LIFE compared to MepilexTM Border Flex for fluid retention under pressure >
Helping you get CLOSER TO ZERO◊ human & economic cost of wounds.
For detailed product information, including indications for use, contraindications, precautions and warnings, please consult the product’s applicable Instructions for Use (IFU) prior to use.
*implemented as part of standard care protocols for 6 months.
**Wound care audit over 12 months. Average 2.6 dressings per wound per week.
***volunteer trial.
Image references
i) Smith & Nephew, April 2016 2016.Wound Model Testing of New ALLEVYN Life Gen2 wcl Dressing using Horse Serum at a Flow Rate Modelling that of a Moderately Exuding Wound Data on File Report DS/14/303/R.- April 2016,
ii) Smith & Nephew 2016.Product Performance of Next Generation ALLEVYN Life (HVT080). Internal Report. GMCA-DOF/08.
iii)Data on File Report DS/19/071R - ALLEVYN LIFE Absorbency Evaluation. March 2019.
iv) Smith & Nephew May 2016 2016.New ALLEVYN Life Gen2 wcl - Physical Testing. Internal Report. DS/15/025/R.
References:
1) Joy H, et al. A collaborative project to enhance efficiency through dressing change practice. Journal of wound care. 2015 Jul 2;24(7):312-7.
2) Stephen-Haynes J, et al. An appraisal of the clinical performance and economic benefits of a silicone foam in a large UK primary care organisation. Journal of Community Nursing 2013.
3) Rossington, A., Drysdale, K., and Winter, R. Clinical performance and positive impact on patient wellbeing of ALLEVYN Life. Wounds UK. 2013;9(4):91-95.
4) Vowden, K., Molemen, N., Drysdale, K., Mistry, C., . An open, prospective randomised, multi-centre clinical evaluation of a hydrocellular silicone foam dressing* in the management of exuding chronic and acute wounds. Paper presented at: EWMA; 2011; Brussels.
5) Audit data from a Welsh University Health Board, collated 2019.
6) Krönert GT, et al. The impact of introducing a new foam dressing in community practice. EWMA Journal. 2016 Nov 1;16(2).
7) Audit data from a Cornwall NHS Trust, collated June 2019.
8) Audit data from a Tayside NHS trust, collated 2017-2019.
9) Smith & Nephew 4 July 2018.Use of Moisture Vapour Permeability* (MVP) and Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate** (MVTR) data to support product claims referring to moist wound healing. Internal Report. EO.AWM.PCSgen.001.v1.
10) Smith & Nephew February 2016. Subjective comparison of masking ability of the New ALLEVYN LIFE versus Current ALLEVYN LIFE by Healthcare Professionals. Internal Report. DS/16/061/R.
11) Clinical Evaluation Team Report, 2019.
12) Smith & Nephew May 2016 2016.New ALLEVYN Life Gen2 wcl - Physical Testing. Internal Report. DS/15/025/R.
13) Smith & Nephew June 2016.Bacterial Barrier properties of New ALLEVYN™ LIFE Gen 2 WCL against Serratia marcescens. Internal Report. 1606005.
14) Smith & Nephew 2018.An Open, Prospective, Randomised Volunteer Trial to Compare the Product Performance of Next Generation ALLEVYN Life with Mepilex Border and Current ALLEVYN Life. Internal Report. HVT080A 970A.
15) Viamontes, L., Jones, A.M., .Evaluation study of the properties of two adhesive foam dressings. British Journal of Nursing (Tissue Viability Supplement). 2003;12(11):S43-S49.
16) Smith & Nephew 20 June 2016.A Randomised Cross-Over Clinical Evaluation to Compare Performance of ALLEVYN™ Life and Mepilex® Border Dressings on Patient Wellbeing-Related Endpoints. Internal Report. CE/047/ALF.
17) Smith & Nephew, April 2016 2016.Wound Model Testing of New ALLEVYN Life Gen2 wcl Dressing using Horse Serum at a Flow Rate Modelling that of a Moderately Exuding Wound.
18) Simon, D., Biel, A. A structured collaborative approach to appraise the clinical performance of a new product. Wounds UK. 2014;10(3):80-87.
19) Smith & Nephew 14 June 2012.Odour reducing properties of ALLEVYN Life. Internal Report. DS/12/127/DOF.
20) Smith & Nephew 8 June 2016.Permeability of Hydrophillic Polyurethane Film when in contact with water and water vapour (ALLEVYN LIFE). Internal Report. RD/16/019.
21) Smith & Nephew 2016.Product Performance of Next Generation ALLEVYN Life (HVT080). Internal Report. GMCA-DOF/08.
22) Clarke, R. Positive patient outcomes: The use of a new silicone adhesive foam dressing for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. Paper presented at: WOCN; 2013.
23) Lisco, C. Evaluation of a new silicone gel-adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing as part of a pressure ulcer prevention plan for ICU patients. Paper presented at: WOCN; 2013.
24) Swanson T, Duynhoven K, Johnstone D. Using the new T.I.M.E. Clinical Decision Support Tool to promote consistent holistic wound management and to eliminate variation in practice in Victoria, Australia: Part 1. Wounds International. 2019;10(2):38–47. Available at: https://www.woundsinternational.com/journals/latest-issue/wounds-international-journal
25) Moore Z, Dowsett C, Smith G, et al. TIME CDST: an updated tool to address the current challenges in wound care. J Wound Care. 2019;28(3):154-161. Available at: Journal of Wound Care.