Allergy to something in bandaids?

[JFS_PA]

I'm primarily allergic to the edge of the bandaid (where the core material is exposed, I guess) rather than the adhesive. The kicker? It's only the latex-free ones that give me red welts. Regular latex bandaids are getting mighty hard to find. Sometimes I find them in the 3rd world (and never stock up as much as I should, because by the time I know they're good, it's not convenient to get more).

 

[DisneyOma]

My dermatologist told me that bandages these days don't have latex in them any more.

That said, I have problems with the adhesives in bandages. I had to use bandages recently after having two moles removed and the NextCare brand bothered my skin more than the bandages from the derm and the generic/store brand ones I'd been using. I'm so sensitive that even paper tape bothers my skin.

Me too - now I have to leave the bandage on for as long as it is needed, then after cover the area with a healing salve my herbalist friend made for me. Most time now I don't even use a bandage - just pressure with gauze until bleeding stops. Of course that doesn't help for larger issues!

OP here and actually I said I don't think it is latex. I use all kinds of things that contain latex and have never had a problem, even since this problem with the bandaid. I have also used other bandaids and gauze with adhesive on the edges and have had no further reaction. I think it is the adhesive in the Nexcare bandaids. I could confirm it by using one again, but that was some painful stuff! It was like my skin came off with the bandaid and then it was raw like a 3rd degree burn.

Marsha

Ouch! Good to know it's just one brand though.

 

[anniemae]

This thread is from 2009, I am sure OP has figured it out by now!

FWIW, I had heard you can have an allergy to the adhesive in band aids.

 

[firecracker725]

I am 38 and have never, ever had a problem with bandaids. I was trying to get rid of a skin tag on my stomach and read that if you cover one with a bandaid, it will fall off. So I put a bandaid(Curad brand) on it and then the next morning switched to a new bandaid(Nexcare brand). Everything looked fine then. That afternoon, I started feeling stinging pain in the bandage area. I thought maybe that was the process of the skin tag falling off, and left it until evening. Then I couldn't stand the stinging anymore and took the bandaid off. It hurt a lot to take it off and there were raw spots where the edges of the bandaid had been! I mean, like the skin was just gone, as if I shaved it off with a razor blade. What could cause this? It started on Wednesday and I have been trying to get it well since then, using antibiotic ointment and gauze type bandages. Even so, I think it is beginning to get infected.

So, what could I be allergic too in the Nexcare bandaids? I wear latex gloves at school sometimes and have had no problems and as I said, this is the first time I have had a problem with a bandaid.

Any ideas?

Marsha

Doh! Zombie thread. Dang it.

 

[the2Csmom]

I wouldn't be quick to blame this on latex or the type of bandaids. I started reacting to the adhesive used in all bandages about 15 years ago. I had no problem until then so I don't know if they changed the adhesive or if I developed an alergy. Everyone including my doctor immediately claimed that it must be the latex but I can assure you that this is not it. The worst reactions that I have had actually came from using a steri-strip (cloth backed adhesive) after surgery. I also reacted to an adhesive that was used to attach monitors during surgery. I had a strange and painful circular rash in spots on my back that had me stumped until I remembered that they had attached monitors for surgery. And by the way, I have no problem wearing latex gloves.

If you can't tell, this subject gets me really agitated because everyone blames this on the latex. The rash from the adhesive is very painful and I made it my business to find out the cause. If I have to cover a wound I now use a fabric wrap to hold a sterile pad in place.

I don't know if you are still active. However, I have a question about using the gauze and fabric wrap. I use the gauze and wrap around Coban/Coflex on legs, toes, ankles, arms, wrists, and fingers. What do you use in other parts of the body? It really isn't feasible to wrap around the whole torso for something on the back or stomach. Thank you.

 

[magik]

My dermatologist told me that bandages these days don't have latex in them any more.

That said, I have problems with the adhesives in bandages. I had to use bandages recently after having two moles removed and the NextCare brand bothered my skin more than the bandages from the derm and the generic/store brand ones I'd been using. I'm so sensitive that even paper tape bothers my skin.

I have a problem with certain band aids causing a rash and serious itching. I actually refuse to get them after a blood test because the reactions in whatever brand they use is so bad. I try and use paper tape when I can.

I m allergic to the adhesive in some brands...... could be that

I wouldn't be quick to blame this on latex or the type of bandaids. I started reacting to the adhesive used in all bandages about 15 years ago. I had no problem until then so I don't know if they changed the adhesive or if I developed an alergy. Everyone including my doctor immediately claimed that it must be the latex but I can assure you that this is not it. The worst reactions that I have had actually came from using a steri-strip (cloth backed adhesive) after surgery. I also reacted to an adhesive that was used to attach monitors during surgery. I had a strange and painful circular rash in spots on my back that had me stumped until I remembered that they had attached monitors for surgery. And by the way, I have no problem wearing latex gloves.

If you can't tell, this subject gets me really agitated because everyone blames this on the latex. The rash from the adhesive is very painful and I made it my business to find out the cause. If I have to cover a wound I now use a fabric wrap to hold a sterile pad in place.

I am alllergic to adhesive too! I had no idea so many other people were too.

The only brand of bandage I’ve found that doesn’t cause me problems is variety of CVS store brand bandages that say they are hypoallergenic and have “gentle” adhesive. Which basically means they don’t stick very well at all, but usually long enough that the cut underneath has stopped bleeding. It really stinks. The last time I had bloodwork, they used gauze and paper tape. Even though I removed it quickly, I ended up having a rash that lasted over a week.

 

[the2Csmom]

I am alllergic to adhesive too! I had no idea so many other people were too.

The only brand of bandage I’ve found that doesn’t cause me problems is variety of CVS store brand bandages that say they are hypoallergenic and have “gentle” adhesive. Which basically means they don’t stick very well at all, but usually long enough that the cut underneath has stopped bleeding. It really stinks. The last time I had bloodwork, they used gauze and paper tape. Even though I removed it quickly, I ended up having a rash that lasted over a week.

I can't use any kind of tape. We haven't figured out for sure if it's latex, too. Doc says yes, along with adhesives on all tapes. It eats my skin along with blisters. It's VERY painful.

 

[Nox]

I've used the Nexcare bandaids, and they are horribly rough - they always take skin with them when I remove them.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I have an allergy to the adhesive used in some brands of bandaid - particularly the cloth/elastoplast type. I swell, get hives and break a rash. Once the adhesive makes skin contact it’s game over. I don’t have the same immediate reaction to the plastic strip type of bandaid - they use a different adhesive.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have an allergy to the adhesive used in some brands of bandaid - particularly the cloth/elastoplast type. I swell, get hives and break a rash. Once the adhesive makes skin contact it’s game over. I don’t have the same immediate reaction to the plastic strip type of bandaid - they use a different adhesive.

And I break out with plastic bandaids. The cloth ones are fine for me.