Dressing for chronic wounds, including pressure ulcers, chitin gel

A dressing for protecting and healing lesions such as chronic wounds and particularly sloughs. The dressing consists of an acetylated chitosan or chitin gel with a degree of acetylation of at least 60 %. Advantageously, the amount of chitin or chitosan is preferably of 0.5-3.5 % based on the weight of the gel and its thickness is of 3-4 mm. The method for preparing said dressing comprises forming a hydroalcoholic chitosan solution containing approximately 10 g of chitosan per litre of an alcoholic medium containing 10-65 % alcohol, stirring into said chitosan solution a reacetylation solution of acetic anhydride in the same alcohol as that contained in the hydroalcoholic solution, pouring the resulting solution into a mould having the shape of the desired dressing, allowing the gel to set, removing excess solvent, and washing the gel thoroughly.