The present invention relates to a wound dressing comprising a flexible base layer and an antimicrobial material, wherein the antimicrobial material comprises an activated carbon-carried noble metal, the activated carbon is selected from the group consisting of an activated carbon powder, an activated carbon particle, an activated carbon fiber, and a combination thereof, and the noble metal is selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, palladium, platinum, copper, zinc, and a combination thereof. The invention also relates to an antimicrobial composition for topical use on skin, in which the composition comprises the aforementioned activated carbon-carried noble metal.