Embodiments disclosed herein provide compositions, methods, and uses for treating skin wounds, including chronic wounds such as venous ulcers. Certain embodiments provide methods for treating a skin wound, where the entire wound is exposed to zinc, especially in the form of zinc gauze. Certain embodiments provide methods for treating a skin wound, where only a peripheral rim of the wound is exposed to zinc, especially in the form of zinc oxide gauze. Other embodiments provide wound dressings and wound dressing kits, where the dressing and dressing kits include central gauze free of zinc to contact a central drainage zone of the wound and a second zinc gauze to contact a peripheral healing zone of the wound. In certain embodiments, the central gauze is optional.
