Smith & Nephew Jelonet (5cmx5cm)

Smith & Nephew Jelonet (5cmx5cm) is a sterile, knitted cotton or viscose gauze dressing that is uniformly impregnated with soft paraffin. It is a medical device rather than a medicine and contains no active pharmaceutical ingredient. The paraffin coating gives the open-weave gauze a non-adherent quality.

The 5cmx5cm size is the smaller of the two Jelonet sizes. Because Jelonet’s open mesh allows fluid to pass through rather than absorbing it itself, it is typically used together with a secondary absorbent dressing placed on top. It is supplied as an individually wrapped, sterile, single-use item.

Jelonet works through a purely physical, non-adherent mechanism: the knitted gauze base is coated with soft paraffin, an inert, greasy substance that fills the mesh openings and forms a smooth, lubricated layer between the fabric fibres and the surface it contacts. This is a different construction from plain, uncoated gauze, which has an open weave without any coating.

The paraffin does not itself absorb fluid — its role is purely to create a non-stick contact layer — so fluid passes through the open mesh into a secondary absorbent dressing placed on top, which is where fluid is collected.

Jelonet is often used for minor burns, grazes, and small wounds at home, but for larger or deeper burns, skin graft or donor sites, or wounds requiring closer monitoring, it should be applied under the guidance of a doctor or nurse. Wash and dry your hands, clean the wound as advised, then open the sterile pack and lay the paraffin gauze directly over the wound so the mesh fully covers the affected area, avoiding excessive overlap onto surrounding healthy skin.

Place a suitable secondary absorbent dressing over the Jelonet layer to soak up wound fluid, and secure the whole dressing with tape or a bandage. Change the dressing according to your healthcare provider’s advice or when the secondary dressing becomes saturated, gently removing it without tugging on the paraffin layer to avoid disturbing new tissue.

Not applicable — this is not a medicine and has no dose. Use one piece per wound, sized to fully cover the wound bed with a small margin, together with an appropriate secondary absorbent dressing.

Shelf life varies by manufacturing batch and is printed as an expiry date on the individual pack and outer carton. Do not use if the expiry date has passed or if the sterile pack seal is broken, torn, or damaged.

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and excessive heat, at room temperature, in the original unopened packaging until ready to use, as heat can soften the paraffin coating. Keep out of reach of children. This is a sterile, single-use item and must be discarded after opening, even if not fully used.

• Common: a temporary greasy residue on the skin around the wound from the paraffin coating, which can usually be gently wiped away.
• Common: mild skin irritation where adhesive tape is used to secure the secondary dressing.
• Serious: an allergic reaction (spreading redness, itching, blistering, or a rash beyond the wound edge) or worsening signs of wound infection should be assessed promptly by a doctor.

• Do not use on individuals with a known allergy or sensitivity to paraffin or any component of the dressing.
• Large, deep, or full-thickness burns, skin graft and donor sites, and heavily infected or non-healing wounds should be managed under the guidance of a doctor or nurse, not with home self-treatment alone.
• Do not reuse a piece once opened or applied, even if it appears clean, as sterility cannot be guaranteed after first use.
• Avoid excessive heat exposure to the packaged dressing, as this can soften and redistribute the paraffin coating.

• Not applicable — this is not a medicine.

• Always pair Jelonet with a secondary absorbent dressing, since the paraffin gauze itself does not absorb fluid.
• For anything beyond minor, superficial application, check with a doctor or pharmacist before self-treating.
• Handle the sterile pack by the edges and avoid touching the mesh surface before application.
• Store away from heat sources, as warmth can soften the paraffin and make the dressing harder to handle.
• Remove gently; if it feels stuck, moisten slightly with saline as advised rather than pulling.
• Keep a small first aid kit with a few 5cmx5cm pieces at home.

Precautions: This is a medical device, not a medicine, and contains no active pharmaceutical ingredient. It should always be used with a suitable secondary absorbent dressing, and larger, deeper, or more extensive concerns, or those affecting the face, hands, joints, or genitals, should be assessed by a doctor.

When to See a Doctor or Pharmacist: Seek medical attention for anything large, deep, blistering extensively, or located on the face, hands, feet, joints, or genitals, for anything showing signs of infection such as increasing redness, warmth, pus, or fever, for skin graft or donor site care, or if you are unsure whether this dressing is suitable for a particular situation.