<p>There are a myriad of dressings available to manage chronic wounds and, as a result, it can be quite daunting for the clinician to make a decision as to the ‘best’ dressing for a given wound at a given time. Understanding the basic principles of wound management and coupling that with knowledge of the dressing characteristics can help to make the decision-making process easier. From a dressing perspective, the overarching goal is the filling of wound space if needed, and providing the optimal balance of moisture at the wound surface, thereby protecting the surrounding skin. From a patient’s perspective, there are a number of considerations to ensure that the selected dressing enhances wellbeing and concordance.</p>