Occlusive dressings reduce or eliminate wound pain, increase the speed of reepithelialization in acute wounds and stimulate debridement and healing of chronic ulcers. During the first 10 to 14 days, a large amount of fluid may accumulate under the dressing, but this fluid is seldom the result of infection. Films, foams, hydrocolloids and hydrogels have different properties that commend them in different settings.