Good evening, all. Tonight brings yet another curiosity question from the mind of vthoky: does the adhesive used on Band-Aids make you itch?

Yesterday I spent a while with the Red Cross, doing a platelet donation. Afterward, the nice lady there covered the needle sites with gauze, held down with Band-Aids. Yesterday afternoon and all day today, my "elbow pits" have itched like nobody's business!

The thing I notice is that the itch not at the needle site, but outside it, which makes me think it's a reaction to the adhesive. Does anybody else experience this? (Or am I just weird?)

so many answers SO many ,I will wait for the others, this is gonna be fun

They don’t bother me but they make my wife break out in a itchy rash.

Weird. Try taking a Benadryl pill, or apply the Benadryl cream to the area.

Latex allergy?

Sadly latex. And it will need a lifelong management

You may need to ask for latex free bandaids from now on.

Since I am a ginger.... yes.

Only once. Had an incisional hernia repaired laparoscopically. The incisions were covered by the large bandaids that I remember from when I was a kid that were used to cover big scrapes on the knees. Anyway, I took the bandaids off in the shower after my second day home from the hospital. That night, I woke myself up scratching. I looked at what I was scratching and it looked like I still had the bandaids on due to my skin welting up. Used hydrocortisone cream and it helped. I've used those bandaids before and since and never had an issue.

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
Sadly latex. And it will need a lifelong management

Most healthcare facilities use latex-free bandages. Another thing to think about is that the adhesive used in bandages/tapes/patches is a fairly common irritant/allergen. I have had the same issue as the OP for years, and recently found out via patch testing that I am allergic to the adhesive used in almost all medical tapes/patches/bandages.

quote:

Originally posted by WingedMedic:

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
Sadly latex. And it will need a lifelong management

Most healthcare facilities use latex-free bandages. Another thing to think about is that the adhesive used in bandages/tapes/patches is a fairly common irritant/allergen. I have had the same issue as the OP for years, and recently found out via patch testing that I am allergic to the adhesive used in almost all medical tapes/patches/bandages.

Same with me. I started using the self-adhesive wraps used in clinics when I get blood drawn. The wraps only stick to itself and has no adhesive.

Yup. Doc described it to me as more of a latex sensitivity than a full blown allergic reaction. It usually take wearing a bandage or medical tape a couple days for the itchiness to present. I had a knee replaced two years ago and I made them aware since this was far and away the biggest surgical deal I had undertaken. With the precautions taken I had zero issues. They have alternatives, they just need to know.

 
I've used two different kinds of Band-Aid brand strips. One is sort of plastic, and does not hold as well as the other. The other is more like cloth, and is called "Flex". I don't know if the adhesives are different, but I can peel off a plastic one easily, whereas the Flex one tends to take some skin along with it. It does stay on forever, though, good for active things. Such as on your hand/finger where you need to be using those a lot. I don't know if either uses latex.
 

Not me personally, but my wife and kids will have a minor redness breakout if the adhesive sits on them for too long.

It’s not necessarily a latex allergy. Put on some latex gloves or... other product and see if you get the same results.

The adhesive is more irritating to some folks than others, and even on otherwise non-sensitive individuals can cause a topical dermatitis with constant exposure over an extended period (think telemetry leads).

-Rob

I've have never had a reaction from band aids. I also gave platelets last week. I have given platelets quite a few times and notice different Red Cross drives use different bandages. Some put on a sticky web like material that they wrap around the patch they put on. No rash, needle went in smooth, but I have a pretty big black and blue spot around the needle insertion.

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
It’s not necessarily a latex allergy. Put on some latex gloves or... other product and see if you get the same results.

The adhesive is more irritating to some folks than others, and even on otherwise non-sensitive individuals can cause a topical dermatitis with constant exposure over an extended period (think telemetry leads).

I'm wondering if it's the adhesive. We use a lot of gloves at work (though they may be nitrile, rather than latex) and those don't bug me. The, um, other product never did... thankfully, I'm "fixed" and don't have to fool with those.

quote:

Originally posted by rtquig:
I've have never had a reaction from band aids. I also gave platelets last week. I have given platelets quite a few times and notice different Red Cross drives use different bandages. Some put on a sticky web like material that they wrap around the patch they put on. No rash, needle went in smooth, but I have a pretty big black and blue spot around the needle insertion.

It's funny you mention the wrap. Flora (the nice lady at the Red Cross) actually gave me the choice between Band-Aids and the wrap... guess I chose poorly.

Not as much today, but still itchy. Good grief.

Had my first Pacer put in 9 years ago and got a rash from the tape used to cover incision and last June the Pacer was replaced and I forgot to tell them about the rash last time and of course another rash. I now have it on my Med record no Surgical tape.

I'm allergic to the glue on Band-Aids, first thought it was latex, but started using exclusively cloth, same problems. It kills the skin where I place Band-Aids turns dry and cracking with redness. I use Band-Aids to stop small cuts and remove within 4 hours or I use vet wrap/gauze with gauze pads for things that require time to heal.