Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) Academic Journal of Surgery 2423-3218 9 1 2026 10 25 12 18 abhishek sharma Faculty Medical and Administrative Head, Medical Superintendent, Director of Plastic Surgery Services, Department of Plastic Surgery, ALL IS WELL Multispecialty Hospital, Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, India 2026 04 09 Chronic wounds are considered a burden for healthcare and do not progress through the wound healing process in a timely manner. They are also the most common reason for a decrease in quality of life in patients. Hydrogel dressings have become essential in the realm of wound management and care. Traditional wound dressings, e.g., gauzes and bandages, require regular application and are effective for dry to mild, exudating wounds, although they are highly absorbent, which therefore can cause pain upon dressing change. In addition, they cannot provide enough drainage and have poor adhesion properties for wounds. Modern dressings  such as hydrogels, are aimed at solving these issues. They create a moist environment that not only encourages tissue healing but also works well with a variety of wound types. At the same time, unlike other types of modern  dressings (foam, films, and hydrocolloids), hydrogels have positive degradation properties, which makes them the perfect choice for targeted delivery of bioactive substances to the wound if needed. Hydrogel dressings hold considerable promise in the field of wound management. Continuous research is crucial to address challenges, resolve current controversies, and improve the efficacy and sustainability of these dressings for superior wound care. This mini review is focused on the advantages of hydrogels over different types of traditional and modern wound dressings. https://ajs.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ajs/article/view/343