You’ve designed the perfect medical product—that is, until I have to grease Granny to pull it off without tearing her skin. I don’t even want to imagine if it got stuck on my cousin’s baby… we might never hear from you again.
MARSI’s (Medical Adhesive-Related Skin Injuries) are shockingly common in the medical world. Skin tears in the NICU reportedly affect up to 41.5% of newborn patients. In the ICU, the prevalence of skin tears among older patients is around 14.5%.
One of the most crucial factors in developing a medical product is selecting a material that is safe for patients. For stick-to-skin applications, Strouse prioritizes sourcing the right adhesive for that application to avoid patient harm.
Whether you plan to build CGM devices, affix catheter tubes, or design the next wound care solution, read on to learn which types of adhesives are suitable for sensitive skin.
All adhesive tape has varying strengths, ranging from the gentle clinginess of sticky notes to the harsh pull of waxing tape on a hairy leg to structural adhesives that can hold up windows. Medical adhesive tape maintains a delicate balance between skin adhesion and removal.
The two most commonly used tapes in medical care for sensitive skin are acrylic and silicone tape.
| COMMON SKIN ADHESIVES | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Silicone | Generally has a lower adhesive strength Lessens the odds of skin damage Can be repositionable |
More expensive |
| Acrylic | Higher adhesive strength for long-term applications Long-lasting |
Greater risk of skin damage |
| Synthetic Rubber | High initial tack Durable |
Less flexible than silicone |
Silicone skin tapes have a lower adhesive strength, making them a common choice for sensitive skin applications. You can use them to securely fasten devices, sensors, or multi-layered dressings, thereby reducing the risk of skin damage.
Soft silicone gel has notably lower peel adhesion than rubber or acrylic materials, making it ideal for gentle applications and removals. In fact, pressure-sensitive silicone tapes are often repositionable, which is a desirable feature in many medical applications.
See Examples of Silicone Skin Tapes
Acrylic skin tapes are often used in high-strength stick-to-skin applications, such as attaching medical devices or securing heavy wound dressings.
Medical monitoring devices and other heavy applications require stronger adhesives to form a secure bond between the device and the patient’s skin. However, depending on the patient’s age and condition, using powerful acrylic tapes could risk damage, such as tearing.
Due to their strength and the fact that they cling more tightly to the skin to support a greater weight, acrylic tapes can put infants or elderly patients at risk of injury, as they are more likely to tear upon removal. Even specialized “low-trauma” acrylic tapes have drawbacks, such as reduced adhesive-cohesive strength, which can result in adhesive residue being left behind.
See Examples of Acrylic Skin Tapes
Although more expensive than natural rubber, synthetic rubber is commonly used in hospitals due to the prevalence of latex allergies among patients. It has a high initial tack and is considered durable. However, it isn’t as flexible as silicone and therefore, functions better on less motion-intensive parts of the body.
Infant skin is 20-30% thinner than that of adults, with smaller cells that have poor moisture retention and a higher turnover rate. Meanwhile, elderly skin cells struggle to replicate, creating a thinning effect that causes the dermis to lose volume. Comorbidities, such as diabetes or long-term use of corticosteroids, can also weaken blood vessels and fragilize the skin.
Both infant and elderly skin have fewer elastic fibers than adult skin and are more susceptible to dehydration. This reduces resiliency, making the epidermis more vulnerable to mechanical damage, such as tearing. Additionally, infants and elderly patients often exhibit lower mobility levels, so the increased durability of a stronger skin adhesive may be unnecessary, given the risk of skin damage.
Using specialized medical tapes for infant and elderly care helps protect the delicate skin of vulnerable patients and promotes their long-term health.
*DISCLAIMER: The following suppliers often sell large quantities that are unsuitable for personal use cases. However, if you are a material purchaser, product engineer, inventor, or something along those lines, this list is intended for you. Additionally, if you want to create custom prototypes for your design, consider getting a sample from a converter like Strouse.
Choosing a skin adhesive medical tape depends entirely on your planned application. The following list showcases multiple sensitive-skin-friendly adhesive products and brands.
Silicone tapes are repositionable and use gentle skin adhesion to minimize skin and hair trauma during removal. Depending on skin sensitivity and the required amount for each application, silicone adhesive tapes come with multiple adhesion levels. Solventum’s tape is built with a strong adhesive-backing bond to minimize residue on the skin. Based on the tape construction, their Hi-Tack adhesives can last up to 7 days on the skin.
Acrylic-coated tapes and films are commonly used in long-term medical devices. Mactac offers a range of double-coated acrylic film tape, single-coated foam, and other materials suitable for medical device assembly, surgical drapes, and wound care applications.
Hydrogel is commonly used in medical tapes and adhesives in hospitals, as well as in wound care pads with healing and antimicrobial properties, and in sensing gels for wireless health monitoring. Hydrogel adhesives are formulated to conform to the skin, and their soft, unique structure can maintain skin moisture. The hydrogel you select depends on its thickness, adhesion level, and general properties, which vary depending on the specific application.
Hydrocolloid adhesives are absorbent and conformable materials built to avoid skin irritation and trauma upon removal. Whether it’s burn therapy, blister treatment, or pressure ulcers, selecting a hydrocolloid can depend heavily on the specific situation and the duration of wear. Selecting a hydrocolloid requires careful consideration of thickness, adhesion level, construction, and general properties of individual applications.
Amparo medical hydrocolloids can be worn for up to 2 weeks as an occlusive barrier that absorbs oils, pus, and other exudates while facilitating autolytic debridement.
When selecting a tape for sensitive skin, carefully review its intended application (your tape’s function):
Many factors can affect skin conditions, so it’s essential to consider a variety of materials based on age demographics and the prevalence of comorbidities. However, as long as you’re conscientious about the purpose of your application, you should be able to reduce the risk of skin tears by choosing a suitable material.
If you’re still looking for the right material, consider reaching out to Strouse. Our experts will help you find a suitable stick-to-skin material for your application.
For more information on how to build a successful medical adhesive product, visit our Learning Center.
Originally published: May 5, 2023