There's something that looks like the old ace wrap but it is stretchy and will stick to itself. I used it on my mother and sister (both with fragile skin) to hold bandages in place.

You don't say where on your arm or how big an incision. It sounds like you may be allergic to all tape. Is your incision clean and not oozing? I would probably go with an APD pad or dry dressing and put a sleeve type dressing on with stockinette or tubigrip. Failing that a sock cuff (cut off the foot) to keep the pad dressing in place should work. Your pharmacist or health care store may have supplies you need. Unfortunately I can't see what your wound looks like to get a better idea.

Call the doctors office, they should have given you care instructions. I have had many skin cancers removed and the nurses have always reviewed care of the surgery sites. Best thing may be to cover area with a pad and wrap lightly with gauze then tape only the gauze not your skin. Most of my sites were left open after first day or so, even allowed to wash after that time.

Go to Walmart and get a bandage named Tegederm, Walmart may have their own brand of it. It is a gauze bandage that never sticks to the wound. They're wonderful. After you apply the bandage, use an ace bandage to wrap around the wound. I hope this helps.

I called them and they said I could take off the big one! Woohoo! Thanks y'all for your answers. It was absolutely the adhesive that was bugging me. Much better without it. My whole frame of mind just did a 180 degree change.

Congratulations, your irritated skin should settle down now.

I can have problems with adhesives too, if it ever comes up again that you might need to be bandaged, tell your doctor ahead of time, there are tapes made for sensitive skin. Steri strips I can often tolerate depending on where on my body, I keep those here on hand and use those with gauze pads if I have something that should stay covered. Oddly, those Nexcare type are fine for me on a finger, heel or toe, not so much any place else.

I'm glad you are more comfortable.

Lots of tapes and bandages seem to have latex in them, and they make my skin very unhappy. Yes, it's best to have this info (allergy) in your file so that next time you might need a bandage, they will give you something else.

I work in a latex filled environment (research area in a hospital). I'm outta luck if that's true! I suspect it was the actual adhesive material. Solved for this time, but for next??? I may be outta luck.

:(

I have the exact same problem you've just experienced, Rob333 and it was never the latex that was the issue. It's always been the adhesive. In my advancing years I've become so sensitive to it that I can no longer use the skin sensitive bandages. If I ever have a serious need for that type of coverage on a large scale...they'll have to wrap me up in a plastic bag instead of using any adhesive type product. :-)

Anne

At least i am in good company!

My son said my arm looks better than last night. So yea for no more big bandage.

I'm glad you no longer need the big bandage.

As for the sensitivity - it's 100% the adhesive. It is NOT a latex allergy. The adhesive on bandages does not contain latex.

I also react badly to the adhesive on bandages and the first aid tapes, but that's a sensitive skin reaction, not a latex allergy.

Oops, my bad. I learn something new every day! I'm glad you're feeling better, rob.

We usually tell our patient to take off the bandage after 2 to 3 days. A lot of times the doctors remove them before they even leave the hospital. The only time we tell them to keep one on longer, is if there is drainage from the incision. I hope they told you not to submerge it in water. Shower only until it heals.

They didn't tell me to take it off until I asked, which happened to be 3 days later. This is not just a small laproscopic hole, it's inches long with stitches inside the incision and outside of it. It's on my arm and standard of care is 7-10 days before removal of sutures.

They instructed me to keep it dry for 24 hours and then, when it was time to get it wet, afterwards, daub it with a towel, follwed by blow drying it with a hair dryer. Honestly, I didn't even shower at all for 24 hours, waiting until the next day. I stayed in and didn't risk getting the sutures wet. I can shower and wash it fully with soap, but not scrub it.

I did get to take off any other material that had adhesive backing today that hadn't already "fallen" off. The wounds is looking really good and I credit it to their instructions. They're staying on top of it. I now know, tape is highly irritating to my fair redhead freckle skin. Added to the ever growing list!

too bad they didn't covert with that clear bandage that "melts" away and aids in healing...that what the visiting nurse put on fil after he tore his skin in a fall while we were there....she asked it be kept dry till it fell off...as with seniors (he's 91) the skin is very thin....

heck with the way my luck has gone with bandages on this one, it'd dissolved into my skin and become an irritant for three months or something crazy like that. heh

At least I could take them off. Whew!

Sorry that you've had this extra trouble with which to cope, Rob.

I've heard in the past that old folks ...

... are inclined to get "thin skinned".

What's that: not the same thing, you say?

ole joyfuelled

Ah such is life.

Wish the "dissolving" stitches would finish. It is like having a sliver of glass/wood still in my arm, catches on everything! Just glad I can wear short sleeves; can't imagine long sleeves rubbing on it all day.