Santyl ointment is a prescription product that is applied to the skin on wounds. It should be used under the supervision of a trained wound care professional. Santyl is used to debride wounds and speed up the healing process. It is used for dermal ulcers. Dermal ulcers are areas of the skin with reduced blood flow. They can be caused by trauma, infection, or chronic disease. In an ulcer, the outer layer of skin may become necrotic and fall off, increasing the risk of infection. Santyl contains an enzyme found in the human body called collagenase. Since dead skin cells are made up mostly of collagen, collagenase breaks up the collagen and helps to clean the wound.