Algicell Calcium Alginate Dressings

When a wound is draining heavily, the challenge is managing all that exudate without letting the wound bed dry out or macerating the surrounding skin. Algicell dressings from Integra LifeSciences are built for exactly this. Made from seaweed-derived alginate fibers, they absorb fluid and transform into a soft, conformable gel that maintains the moist environment wounds need to heal — pulling excess drainage away while keeping the wound bed hydrated.

The fiber chemistry matters here. Algicell blends mannuronic acid for high gelling capacity with guluronic acid for wet strength, so the dressing gels readily yet holds together for clean, one-piece removal. That's a real advantage in packed wounds, where you don't want fibers left behind.

This collection covers the formats clinicians actually reach for. Flat pads like the 4" x 4" (88044) and 4" x 8" (88048) handle moderate-to-heavy draining wounds, pressure injuries, and diabetic ulcers. The 3/4" x 12" rope (88112) is made for packing tunneling wounds and deep cavities. For infection control, the Algicell Ag silver-impregnated versions — from the compact 2" x 2" square (88522) up to the large 8" x 12" (88582) — add sustained antimicrobial action against a broad range of wound pathogens.

A common question: how often do you change an alginate dressing? Generally when it's saturated — often every one to three days depending on drainage — and always paired with a secondary cover dressing to hold it in place, since alginates aren't self-adhesive. As drainage decreases, so does the change frequency, which is a useful sign of healing progress.

Every Algicell product here ships sterile and single-use. Explore more options across our Advanced Wound Care and Wound Care collections to build a complete dressing regimen.