A transparent film dressing (1) for protection of skin surrounding a wound, the dressing includes a film layer (2) coated with a skin friendly adhesive (3) on one side, a stiffening layer (4) releasably attached to the film layer on the side thereof opposite to the side coated with adhesive, and a release layer (5) releasably attached to the adhesive coating on the film layer. A protection layer (6) is releasably attached to the release layer (5) on the side thereof opposite to the side attached to the adhesive coating (3), and a hole (9) extends through the stiffening layer (4), the coated film layer (2,3) and the release layer (5) but not through the protection layer, all the layers being transparent. A method of applying such a dressing is also described.