Medical sports/athletic sticky tape reactions?

[Clarabel]

I also now use Mefix as it is very hypoallergenic (which doctors have to remember means LESS LIKELY to result in allergy, not impossible!) and the adhesive dissolves in warm water. I used to use Zoff wipes to remove any dressings, which is a (rather stinky!) wipe that is used to dissolve the adhesive and take off those black squares that are left behind after a dressing is removed.

[shen]

I'm allergic to every plaster i have tried, micropore, fabric plasters, waterproof ones, hypoallergenic ones... When my cat gave me a very bad and deep scratch on my arm after i tried to stop a dog from attacking it, we used the gauze and mircopore to cover it, pulling it off ripped off layers of skin and left it very red, itchy, blistered and a little b****y. i never use plasters unless i really have to becuase everything just seems to be too strong and really hurts and itches.

[Rosie]

Hi Shen

Have you tried the new spray on plasters? It would be worth testing one on your skin without an injury to see if you react to it?



Rosie

[shen]

Hi Rosie

I was actually looking at that in the store the other day, and considering to try it!

[Daeinera]

hiya, i don't know if i'm allergic, or if i just lose a couple of layers of skin in the removal process... i get perfect plaster shaped shiny red patch after taking them off (kinda looks like a burn i got from neat dettol once... NOTE: dettol should be diluted before use !!!!!). i find leaving any type of sticky dressing/strapping (had shoulder strapped before) is very uncomfortable on any bit that bends for as long as it stays on, which isn't very long. I got a shoulder strapping that came off 2 hours after physio put it on.
Apparently you can be allergic to hypoallergenic plasters because the hypoallergenic part is made with trace amounts of base metals. also if you get a reaction to those types it may be advisable to steer clear of the new silver ones too. Seek advice from gp or pharmasist if not sure

[Finarda]

I have some of the spray on stuff at home (for my kids) so I'll give it a try - I react to almost all tape except the plastic tape (it's marketed as Plastic Tape!). My son often reacts to medical tape too but I can't remember if we've used it on him or not. Although given how many scrapes he gets on his knees and legs i'm not sure how we could have NOT tried it on him! (someone in passing at the weekend asked if we'd ever noticed that his lower legs seem to rotate wildly when he runs... darn, I'd hoped that he might skip HEDS!)

Fiona

[charliebird81]

When my physio strapped my wrists, she put a tape called hypofix underneath the stiff strapping. I think it is pretty similar to mefix/mepore. However, when I ran out I had to buy it off the internet as you can't get it in chemists.

Hope that helps!

[Finarda]

Modnote: Topic merged with existing post on tape reactions.

I've started using "self-adhering elastic bandages", mainly to splint sore fingers or joints but occasionally with some gauze over a cut - it doesn't use any 'sticky tape' at all - just sticks to itself. I haven't had any allergic reactions to it whatsoever, which is great! And you can get it in skin tone so it's not as obvious

Fiona

[jaymie]

OW is all i can say, had my shoulder taped yesterday and now i have blisters from the tape

[jessie]

Hey there,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, mods please move if need be.

I'm having a really weird reaction to taping, it won't stick! My masseur and Physio have trouble getting it to stick well when applying it, then within an hour it's a constant fight of applying more to hold the peeling bits down and prevent the whole lot from coming off. We've tried using the liquid stuff under it with the same affect, peels right off.

The other problem I have with it is when it does stick well, rare, but it happens from time to time, my skin will stretch out within a few hours negating any effect the tape would've had. Ie. Taping for subluxing knees, within a few hours instead of being nice n firm looks like a poorly applied bandaid.

Does anyone have any suggestions for helping either of these?

Thanks, Jessie

[happy bunny]

I have 3 times had a problem with blistering from dressings following knee ops. It took us a while to figure out what the problem was and I had a really bad time when on a cpm machine following an op. I'm definately not allerigic to the sticky and the blisters only happen when the dressing is on a joint. We have concluded that it's because the skin is stretching rather than the dressing when I bend and flex the joint, this causes the blisters. The solution is to only use a very lightly adhesived dressing. There's a foam one called 'Mepilex' (not mepilex border which has a very sticky border) and it will protecet the would but still alow the skin to move freely underneath.