A dressing system for cooling skin or a wound site on a subject comprises a dressing having a reservoir for holding a liquid. The dressing may be configured for placement proximate to a postoperative surgical wound site of the subject or on the facial area of the subject. The dressing system includes a cooling chamber external to the dressing configured to cool the liquid. The dressing system includes a pump configured to circulate the liquid between the cooling chamber and the reservoir. The dressing system may include a suction element for applying suction at, or proximate to, the dressing for removing sweat or wound drainage.