Alternatives to "adhesives" in medical settings

November 27, 2023 12:29 PM

I am highly sensitive to adhesives. Medical professionals either do not believe me or do not have alternatives to give me (I guess?). I have a lot more medical shit coming up and I'm wondering what my options are.

I am highly sensitive to adhesives. Steri-strips make me blister. Regular band-aids will give me a rash (or blister) if left on for more than a little bit. EKG sticker things leave red itchy marks for days after they've been applied (and left on for only minutes to do an EKG or 2). Tegaderm/saniderm can stay on for about a day until I need to remove it due to red/itchy skin. Medical professionals either do not believe me or do not have alternatives to give me (I guess?). I have a lot more medical shit coming up and I'm wondering what my options are.

Are there adhesive bandages that won't make me flare? If I brought my own, would they let me use them? What are alternatives for when you get an IV that they need to hold in place? What about larger bandages to cover a surgical incision?

I am also sensitive to that one ingredient in neosporin, but this question is specifically about adhesives (that is, I'm not mistaking my adhesive issue for a neosporin issue).

I have tried band-aid, curad, various generic bandages. The foamy ones, flexible fabric, old school plastic, clear ones. All give me issues unless it's just wrapped around my finger.

posted by misanthropicsarah to Health & Fitness (22 answers total)

Could this be a latex allergy? Have you tried latex-free bandages and they still react the same way? Do you have reactions to other natural latex rubber products?
posted by Xoder at 12:36 PM on November 27, 2023 [1 favorite]

At my last blood draw, they used something that looked like to hold the cotton pad in place. It is not adhesive to your skin at all but it sticks well you itself so they wrap it around the site 4-5 times to get it to stick. Works well for joints - fingers, arms, legs - anywhere they can wrap it to keep things in place. My link was to a pet supply store but I bet you could find sterile versions if you looked.
posted by metahawk at 12:39 PM on November 27, 2023 [2 favorites]

Are you reactive to this type of stretchy self adhesive bandage? The last time I gave blood that's what they used to hold the cotton ball in place at the end, instead of a bandaid. It might not work for every application but it could lessen your exposure.
posted by velocipedestrienne at 12:41 PM on November 27, 2023 [1 favorite]

Try using an anti histamine creme before placing the bandage.
posted by hortense at 12:43 PM on November 27, 2023 [1 favorite]

Flexible fabric bandages are listed in the list of bandages tried, so I assume this is something other than a latex allergy. Unfortunately, I don't have advice to give here beyond that you should probably see a dermatologist about this, as this is pretty atypical, and without knowing what the underlying issue is, hospitals aren't going to be in a good position to accommodate for it. The fact that they blister as well as irritate would be concerning to me (though I'm no medical professional either).
posted by Aleyn at 12:57 PM on November 27, 2023

Best answer: Oh, hello! I have the same issue (raised skin, itchiness, redness, blisters) and I've found alternatives.

For tape for bandaging, I had Medipore by 3M. For holding needles in place, my clinic used the size that was about an inch wide and perforated every three inches. It's more expensive than regular tape but it made such a difference. Your provider might carry it or something like it -- I was one of several patients with this allergy -- but it might be good to pick some up at Amazon or Walmart or wherever for home use. They may or may not let you use it if you're in a clinical setting but it's worth a try.

EKGs only last a few minutes, so I was fine with the regular adhesive for such a short time. But for longer electrode sessions, like if you're using a Holter monitor, make a point to ask for "hypoallergenic", because that does exist, I've used it. They might have to dig around in a back room for it.

I haven't figured out an alternative to tegaderm yet.
posted by mochapickle at 1:03 PM on November 27, 2023 [7 favorites]

Response by poster: i don't believe it's a latex allergy as it's happened with lots of different types of bandages.

the stretchy stuff at blood draws that you guys are talking about is usually okay. but sometimes that pulls off a bit of skin when removed. i think i just have super sensitive/shitty skin.

recommendations about bandages to try or other products to try/bring with me welcome!
posted by misanthropicsarah at 1:09 PM on November 27, 2023 [1 favorite]

In your list of tapes and bandages you've tried, are you including paper tape? That's the typical go-to for adhesive issues so I'm guessing you have tried it, but if not it's much simpler to access in a medical office.

You might want to visit an allergist for scratch testing. That would identify the substances you react to, and could be of help in finding products you can tolerate, and maybe buy yourself.
posted by citygirl at 1:20 PM on November 27, 2023 [4 favorites]

Best answer: I have a bandaid adhesive allergy and I literally just got a memail from another one of us who has a bandaid adhesive allergy a couple weeks ago. Welcome to the club.

Something that may help you get traction: apparently the adhesive allergy isn't a "true" allergy (at least not for me), but in fact contact dermatitis. Calling it an allergy should be plenty to get people to take you seriously, but when they inevitably do be shitty at you, tell them this:

"I experience progressive contact dermatitis with each successive exposure to adhesive. The last time I was exposed to adhesive my reaction was [short but vivid description of your blistering], which was a worse reaction than the exposure I had prior to that one and the one before. Every time I am exposed to adhesive, the reaction becomes more severe."

(You have my permission to be mean about it.)

For me, the self adhesive wrap they use for pets works great. If you find that it pulls at you, ask them to put a layer of gauze between your skin and the tape first. I refuse all other bandages and so far have been lucky enough that I haven't needed significant bandaging since my allergy awoke.


Watching this closely as I need to schedule myself to wear a Holter monitor in a few weeks and I don't know what I'm going to do about the stickies...
posted by phunniemee at 1:22 PM on November 27, 2023 [13 favorites]

I have the same problem, but not nearly as bad. I've noticed that bandaids and other tapes leave a residue on the skin. I've found that removing the residue with rubbing alcohol keeps the contact to a minimum and reduces inflammation.
posted by H21 at 1:47 PM on November 27, 2023

Best answer: I've had good luck using a product called "barrier film," which is applied to the skin before the adhesive bandage or tape is put on. It comes in spray or wipes. i was concerned that I would be sensitive to the barrier film as well (it stinks) but it has never caused me any problem. I bring my own wipes and ask the nurses to use it, but they usually say "oh okay we'll use our own." Here's some information, including specific product brand names, from a company that deals with this issue in the context of Continuous Glucose Monitors. This has completely solved this issue for me.

That article also mentions a tactic i haven't tried--applying a steroid spray meant for nasal allergies (Flonase) before using the bandage. Sounds like it might work.
posted by Corvid at 1:52 PM on November 27, 2023 [7 favorites]

(The stretchy stuff is called COBAN, FYI)
posted by tristeza at 1:54 PM on November 27, 2023 [2 favorites]

tristeza is right, but when it's known as Vetwrap and sold for animal use it's often cheaper.
posted by mmf at 3:24 PM on November 27, 2023 [4 favorites]

Piping in to say 1) I feel this pain, def. the adhesive, and 2) @Phunnieemee, I had a 2-week holter-ish thing (zio?) glue to me about two years ago but for some reason that adhesive did ok for me. So there's hope.
posted by Dashy at 4:08 PM on November 27, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I'm a healthcare worker who admittedly did not truly understand the misery of adhesive reactions until I had to wear a long-term heart monitor a couple years ago. I still have scars from the blistering! Ugh, I fully get it now.

Yes, Coban is great when you can use it, but the times you can use it in a medical setting are usually the times the adhesive wouldn't have to be on you very long anyway (like blood draws). Securing an IV or putting on ECG leads -- Coban isn't really an option.

The thing that has worked best for me -- and now for my patients as well -- is applying a skin barrier spray or wipe before applying the dressing. I use Cavilon and I think it's reasonably widespread enough that you could ask for it by name (or, like Coban and Tegaderm, it's the sort of thing where everyone in healthcare knows it by the brand name even if they use a different brand). It isn't perfect and I still get a reaction at times but it is definitely a lot better than before. I have not had any luck finding adhesive dressings that I don't react to -- even the ones that are supposedly made for more sensitive skin -- so I would not expect your medical providers to be able to help you much on that front no matter how understanding and motivated they are. Ask them to limit their use of adhesives where they can and to use a skin barrier before applying any adhesives, and I think that's going to be your best strategy in getting folks to partner with you. I hope you are able to find some relief!
posted by adiabat at 4:22 PM on November 27, 2023 [11 favorites]

They sell tubular knit bandages that don't have adhesive to hold gauze pads and such:

Tubular Stretch Net Bandage

Mostly effective for larger pads, not for IVs or small sites.
posted by meowzilla at 4:32 PM on November 27, 2023

Have you tried silicone scar tape? I believe it does not use any adhesive, and instead uses the properties of the silicone texture to adhere. I have found it to be completely non-irritating even when used on sensitive locations. It may not adhere strongly enough for all applications, but I bet you could use it as a barrier and then put a stronger adhesive on top of it. This stuff is miraculous. I don't understand why it isn't used more widely.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 4:42 PM on November 27, 2023 [3 favorites]

All sympathies -- my picc line arm decided it didn't like chlorhexidine at all and turned into an itchy rashy mess. Managed to escape having to pull the damn line and put in a new one somewhere else, but it was a near thing.

Nth the suggestion to try barrier film/spray/wipe. Didn't help me much, but does help some people.

One more bandage company to try -- Patch Bandages. I'm mildly reactive to bandage glues, but these have never caused me a problem.
posted by humbug at 4:57 PM on November 27, 2023 [2 favorites]

I am a doctor with a sensitivity to adhesives, but in a different country so these brands may or may not be available.

Most likely to be non-reactive: hydrocolloid dressings ie comfeel (doesn’t have any absorbency but can use over another pad.

likely to be non-reactive: silicon island dressing ie allevyn, mepilex

These are relatively expensive compared to eg tegaderm.

In an appropriate location ie on a limb if you don’t need waterproofing, you can put an absorbent pad on the wound ie melolin and bandage it on (if you don’t react to bandages!)

Hack for other dressings: use a metered dose steroid inhaler such as Flixotide or Pulmicort, spray on the area that would be in contact with adhesive prior to application. Dries without leaving a residue that interferes with the dressing adhering to the skin, which is the problem If you use a steroid cream.
posted by chiquitita at 2:21 AM on November 28, 2023 [6 favorites]

Best answer: And generally, if you are prone to this happening, optimise your skin barrier integrity as much as possible with regular moisturising with a fragrance-free eczema-appropriate moisturiser in the days and weeks prior to anticipated exposure. Grease up!

good luck with your health events.
posted by chiquitita at 2:26 AM on November 28, 2023 [2 favorites]

When my sister had a hysterectomy, the removal of the bandages literally skinned where ever they covered. The surgeon got them partway off and stopped and basically told her to wait until they dropped off naturally. You are not alone in having difficulties like this.

If you have scars from bandage removal tell them about that. Be specific, and show them if you can.

Alternatives seriously depend on where they are placed. If on an arm you can get elastic sleeves to hold things in place. My sister used a tight sock with the toe cut off on a recent skin cancer biopsy on her arm. If your surgery will be on the torso you might convince them to use the smallest amount of tape necessary to hold things in place and let you get changed into a compression girdle when you come out of the anesthetic.

Check your pharmacy for medical products like this, and look into vanity garments for the torso. Specifically ask your doctors if you can supply something like this for them to use after they have put gauze pads over the new stitches.

Your medical people are concerned with protecting the wound. Many of they products like easy to remove tape can fall off minutes after they have been applied, so they are likely to be reluctant to use them.
posted by Jane the Brown at 8:32 AM on November 29, 2023

That's a great point. I was often given these individually wrapped adhesive remover wipes to help reduce injury when removing bandages. It's an oily kind of substance that dissolves the sticky stuff and cleans up any leftover residue on your skin. There are other things that work for this purpose -- alcohol wipes, for example -- but the oily wipes don't sting torn skin.
posted by mochapickle at 9:20 AM on November 29, 2023