Medical Tape & Adhesives - Surgical, Wound and First Aid Tape

Steri-strips are a unique type of medical tape designed to promote rapid healing. Used in clinical, surgical and home settings, Steri-strips work by adhering the ends to either side of a wound and gently pulling the skin together, effectively closing the injury or incision. Healing time varies based on the individual and extent of injury.

When used in a hospital setting, they can sometimes take the place of stitches. In most cases, Steri-Strips will fall off on their own around the two-week mark. If the strips do not come off by themselves, consult your doctor for removal instructions. Whether applied by a medical professional or in a home setting, always remove Steri-Strips gently, to avoid disturbing the newly healed skin underneath.

Kinesiology tape is a type of athletic tape that is most typically used on unbroken skin for therapeutic muscle and joint support. Made from elasticated nylon fabric, this type of medical tape clings to skin without adhesive and stretches with movement. When applied before an activity, kinesiology tape can help provide strategic support to muscles in a given area and reduce swelling, which in turn reduces pain, improves circulation and boosts athletic performance. In the event of an injury, kinesiology tape can help mitigate pain and swelling, especially in cases of sprains, strains, or other overuse injuries.

There are many different types of adhesive used for medical tape. Unfortunately, some of them are very strong and can be difficult to remove from the skin once it has made contact.

Before removing medical tape applied in a professional setting, please consult a physician to ensure the time is right. To remove medical tape residue at home, start by rubbing gently with warm water and a soft cloth. This should help loosen some of the adhesive. If that doesn’t work, you can try a few different methods, including rubbing the area with isopropyl alcohol, oil, or petroleum jelly. These substances can help loosen the adhesive and make it easier to remove.

The most important thing to consider when taping a wound is to follow the doctor’s instructions. If you are uncertain of the extent of your injury, it is advisable to consult your physician prior to self-treatment. With knowledge of and access to multiple types of surgical tape and dressings, a medical professional can decide which is the ideal option for your wound.

General tips for taping include:

• Use gloves to avoid introducing bacteria or dirt to the healing wound.
• Gently wash the wound or cut with a mild soap and washcloth.
• Cover the wound with a clean or sterile piece of gauze or wound dressing.
• Tape the wound dressing in place, taking care to not pull too tight.

Medical tape is a large category of medical dressings that are made of different materials like paper, fabric, plastic, or foam, and adhere to the skin with some form of adhesive. Some medical tape is rigid like silk surgical tape or elasticized like elastic foam tape and kinesiology tape.

The adhesive at the back is specially designed to be gentle on skin, but strong enough to last for at least a day. These adhesives can also help keep bacteria and dirt away from the wound site, and in most cases is designed to be hypoallergenic so it doesn’t irritate sensitive or allergy-prone skin.

Dressing retention tape is a specialty type of medical tape or first aid tape used to hold dressings or other wound care products securely in place. It’s designed to be comfortable on the skin, and the adhesive is both gentle and water-resistant. The tape is also completely see-through so that patients and medical practitioners can track what’s happening underneath the tape, and take action if they see any pus or seepage. Many doctors and patients alike rely on dressing retention tape because it’s flexible, and can be used with long-term devices like an ostomy bag, catheter, or drainage tube with ease.