Wound dressing and method of treatment

1. A wound dressing for providing protection at a wound site, comprising:

a wound contact layer;

an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, the absorbent layer positioned above the wound contact layer;

an obscuring element for at least partially obscuring a view of wound exudate absorbed by the absorbent layer in use, the obscuring element positioned above the absorbent layer, wherein the obscuring element is configured to yield a CIE L* value of 50 or more; and

a cover layer positioned above the obscuring element.

2. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the wound contact layer carries an adhesive portion on a lower surface thereof, the adhesive portion for forming a substantially fluid tight seal over the wound site.

3. The wound dressing of claim 1 , further comprising an odor control element.

4. The wound dressing of claim 3 , wherein the odor control element is dispersed within or adjacent the absorbent layer or the obscuring element.

5. The wound dressing of claim 3 , wherein the odor control element comprises activated charcoal fibres dispersed in a layer of the wound dressing.

6. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element comprises a shielding layer positioned above the absorbent layer, the shielding layer configured for spreading pressure applied to the wound dressing at a first area over a second area, wherein the second area is larger than the first area.

7. The wound dressing of claim 6 , wherein the shielding layer increases the area over which a pressure applied to the dressing is transferred by 25% or more or the initial area of application.

8. The wound dressing of claim 6 , wherein the shielding layer comprises two or more sub-layers, wherein a first sub-layer comprises through holes and a further sub-layer comprises through holes and the through holes of the first sub-layer are offset from the through holes of the further sub-layer.

9. The wound dressing of claim 1 , further comprising a porous layer positioned between the wound contact layer and the absorbent layer, the porous layer configured to draw exudate away from the wound site.

10. The wound dressing of claim 9 , wherein the dressing further comprises an odor control element, and the odor control element is provided as a layer sandwiched between the porous layer and the absorbent layer.

11. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the cover layer comprises a translucent film having a moisture vapour permeability of 500 g/m 2 /24 hours or more.

12. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the cover layer comprises a bacterial barrier.

13. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element is provided over a central region of the absorbent layer and not over a border region of the absorbent layer.

14. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element comprises, or is coated with, a material having size-exclusion properties for selectively permitting or preventing passage of molecules of a predetermined size or weight.

15. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element comprises, or is coated with, a hydrophilic material.

16. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element comprises a three-dimensional knitted spacer fabric.

17. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element is partially translucent.

18. The wound dressing of claim 1 , further comprising a region in or adjacent to the obscuring element for allowing viewing of the absorbent layer.

19. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element comprises an indicator for indicating a need to change the dressing.

20. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element comprises at least one opening for allowing passage of fluid therethrough.

21. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element is configured to at least partially mask light radiation having wavelength of 600 nm and less.

22. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element is configured to reduce light absorption by 50% or more.

23. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element is configured to yield a CIE L* value of 70 or more.

24. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the cover layer is sealed to the wound contact layer around a perimeter of the wound dressing.

25. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the obscuring element and the absorbent layer are provided as a single layer.

26. The wound dressing of claim 1 , wherein the dressing is shaped to include sub-areas.