If the adhesive is too strong, it can tear frail, thin skin, besides being painful to remove and leaving residue. However, in some cases it may be appropriate to use a fabric dressing with a rubber-based adhesive to give a more secure adhesion.⁵

Many manufacturers have designed adhesives to minimise pain when the dressing is removed, such as Mölnlycke’s Mepilex dressings which use Safetac technology.⁶ Similarly, the acrylic adhesive applied to an elastic polyurethane dressing used in Coverplast has been designed to provide sufficient adhesion while not affecting surrounding skin.

Adhesive removers may be useful where the wound is still painful, or if there is trauma around the wound and there is a risk of infection or of hindering the healing process. Adhesive removers can be silicone based to soften up the adhesive, reducing the risk of skin tears or other damage.⁷

Useful websites

• British Red Cross first aid training
• St John Ambulance free mobile first aid apps
• Health and Safety Executive information on first aid at work
• Wounds UK educational resources for health professionals
• The 2015 Pharmacist’s Guide to The Wound Institute
• Activa learning campus
• Elastoplast cuts and grazes