A system for treating a tissue site, comprising: a tissue interface for positioning proximate to the tissue site; a dressing, comprising: a base layer having a periphery surrounding a central portion and a plurality of apertures disposed through the periphery and the central portion, the apertures (160a,b) in the periphery being larger than the apertures in the central portion 156), wherein the base layer covers the tissue interface and tissue surrounding the tissue site, an adhesive in fluid communication with the apertures at least in the periphery of the base layer, a sealing member having a periphery and a central portion, the periphery of the sealing member positioned proximate to the periphery of the base layer, wherein the central portion of the sealing member and the central portion of the base layer define an enclosure, a first wicking layer disposed in the enclosure, a second wicking layer disposed in the enclosure, an absorbent layer disposed between the first wicking layer and the second wicking layer, and a conduit interface positioned proximate to the sealing member and in fluid communication with the enclosure; and a reduced-pressure source in fluid communication with the conduit interface to provide reduced pressure to the dressing. a tissue interface for positioning proximate to the tissue site; a dressing, comprising: a base layer having a periphery surrounding a central portion and a plurality of apertures disposed through the periphery and the central portion, the apertures (160a,b) in the periphery being larger than the apertures in the central portion 156), wherein the base layer covers the tissue interface and tissue surrounding the tissue site, an adhesive in fluid communication with the apertures at least in the periphery of the base layer, a sealing member having a periphery and a central portion, the periphery of the sealing member positioned proximate to the periphery of the base layer, wherein the central portion of the sealing member and the central portion of the base layer define an enclosure, a first wicking layer disposed in the enclosure, a second wicking layer disposed in the enclosure, an absorbent layer disposed between the first wicking layer and the second wicking layer, and a conduit interface positioned proximate to the sealing member and in fluid communication with the enclosure; and a base layer having a periphery surrounding a central portion and a plurality of apertures disposed through the periphery and the central portion, the apertures (160a,b) in the periphery being larger than the apertures in the central portion 156), wherein the base layer covers the tissue interface and tissue surrounding the tissue site, an adhesive in fluid communication with the apertures at least in the periphery of the base layer, a sealing member having a periphery and a central portion, the periphery of the sealing member positioned proximate to the periphery of the base layer, wherein the central portion of the sealing member and the central portion of the base layer define an enclosure, a first wicking layer disposed in the enclosure, a second wicking layer disposed in the enclosure, an absorbent layer disposed between the first wicking layer and the second wicking layer, and a conduit interface positioned proximate to the sealing member and in fluid communication with the enclosure; and a reduced-pressure source in fluid communication with the conduit interface to provide reduced pressure to the dressing.