<p>Does anyone have issues with over the counter band-aids? I have tried several brands including those for “sensitive skin” and labelled allergy-free. All have given problems with an allergic reaction of itching and rash/swelling–not bad enough that requires a Dr.'s attention, but bad enough that I simply cannot wear the bandaids when one is needed. Any suggestions/brands that I might try that might be truly hypo-allergenic? Thanks!</p>
<p>goto a hospital lab and ask the lab tech. that draws the blood what kind of tape they use.</p>
<p>I couldn’t find a ‘bandaid’ that stuck well and adequately protect the wound. But we had an overabundance of gauze from treating FIL so I took a big piece of gauze and used wrapped the gauze with masking tape. </p>
<p>Did the same with a finger cut. Finding a bandaid size is no longer an issue. I refuse to pay $4.00 for assorted sizes - and none of them are the right size.</p>
<p>My H is the same way. There is a clear mark wherever the band aid has been. This is also true for tape. The Dr. told him he’s allergic to the adhesive used and told me that if he’s ever in an accident and can’t speak up for himself I should tell everyone in the ER about it. </p>
<p>If he must have something covered we use gauze pads and strips of gauze to tie them on. It doesn’t work great but it’s better than the alternative.</p>
<p>-raises hand- i am! Found out the hard way after i had a mole removal go wrong :/</p>
<p>I’ve been able to get away with the Nescare bandaids for a short while if i had to do something.</p>
<p>Paper tape and gaze works as well.</p>
<p>I too react to adhesives. I had blood drawn yesterday, and the nurse used something like an ace bandage to hold gauze in place. Its very thin, maybe 1.5" wide.</p>
<p>Have you tried Kling Wrap?</p>
<p>You can buy paper tape in the drugstore. It does not work as well as adhesive tape or even the tape on a band-aid, but it usually doesn’t cause a reaction. You use the paper tape plus some sterile gauze to make a home-made band-aid. Paper tape is what they use in hospitals for people who need IVs taped down but who break out if adhesive tape is used on their skin. (I am one of those people.)</p>
<p>Another option, if the location on your body is suitable, is to put gauze over the wound and wrap an Ace bandage around it to hold it in place.</p>
<p>After some investigation, I have come to the conclusion that it must be the adhesive. Looks like these companies would realize this problem and come up with a solution, esp since so many have the problem. But, I guess several years back, it was cheaper to use some type of adhesive (that some of us are allergic to) that helped to cut costs!</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions!</p>
<p>The skin reaction isn’t necessarily a true allergic reaction, although it is reason enough to avoid the adhesives. “Contact dermatitis” comes to mind without bothering to refresh my decades old studies. Paper tape is useful. When hair is pulled out with tape removal can also be a problem- the need for a bandage to stay in place versus the ease of removal.</p>
<p>I only use “flexible fabric” band-aids, even cheap brands work fine. Any other type of band-aid either leaves a red mark/rash or adhesive on my skin. The fabric ones stay on well and leave nothing behind.</p>
<p>I’ve had real problems with bandaids in the last few years. Unfortunately I’ve had a number of biopsies where I had to wear them more than a day or two. I haven’t found anything that works, even the flexible fabric ones. If it gets too annoying I use gauze and an ACE bandage. I’m going to try the paper tape next time - thanks for the tip!</p>
<p>Paper tape causes H to have the same reaction. Just a word of caution.</p>
<p>I have the same issue, mathmom. I’ve just resigned myself to scarring, since I can’t bear the discomfort of the adhesive. (Oh, and I now react to the antibiotic ointment too.)</p>
<p>When we were little kids, my brother was petrified of band-aids.</p>
<p>It was a case of too-smart-for-his-own-good… He’d go to the doctor, close his eyes tight, get a shot, open his eyes, look down at his hurting arm, and… band-aid. Correlation implies causation, and suddenly band-aids are evil. A little accident-prone kiddo, too, so he’d bleed all over the place and be screaming from a boo-boo, and would scream even louder and run away when we came at him with a band-aid. We tried to ‘science’ it out of him–we dissected band-aids, we bought different kinds and looked at them all, and finally we just gave up and made our own for him. Sterile gauze and medical tape worked well. In a pinch, we’d use ample gauze and an Ace bandage.</p>
<p>He didn’t like elevators or Santa, either.</p>