3M Medipore H Soft Cloth Surgical Tape – Single Use (2yds)

The direction of the stretch should be considered when securing a dressing or tubing to an area that is at high risk for distention, edema, hematoma formation, or movement. Anecdotally, applying soft cloth tape parallel to the incision appears to be associated with fewer skin injuries than taping perpendicular to the incision. When distention or movement under the tape is not anticipated, the direction of the stretch of Medipore tape is not known to make a difference.

The key concepts to maximize adhesion are:

• Start with clean, dry skin
• Touch the sticky surface of the tape as little as possible
• Apply sufficient pressure to the tape to get the adhesive into the nooks and crannies of the skin
• Cover adequate surface area so that the tape can support the tubing or dressing
• Obtain full contact between the tape and the skin or tubing so that moisture cannot slip between the two and loosen the tape
• Most adhesives stick best to clean, dry surfaces so try to minimize moist conditions as much as possible.
• Remove substances that contain emollients or oils, such as most lotions and adhesive tape removers.
• If the skin is very oily, use a mild soap and water to remove the excess oil and pat dry. An alcohol wipe may also be used to remove the excess oil, but since it is very drying, it should be used with care.
• If you are using a prep solution, let it dry completely before applying the tape.

Proper tape removal is critical in reducing the occurrence of traumatic skin injuries such as skin stripping. First, loosen the edges of the tape. You may “start” an edge of the tape by pressing a small piece of tape onto the corner to lift the pressure sensitive adhesive. Stabilize the skin with one finger. Remove the tape “low and slow” in the direction of hair growth. Keep the tape close to the skin surface and pulled back over itself. Removing tape at an angle will increase tension on the epidermis and increase the risk of mechanical trauma. As the tape is removed, continue to support the newly exposed skin. Support close to the “peel edge” is particularly important for thin or easily distensible skin.
For tape that is strongly adhered to skin or hair, you may consider using a medical grade adhesive remover or lotion to soften the adhesive. Solventum (Formerly 3M) tape adhesives are not readily dissolved in alcohol.
Hair presents special challenges. It can be difficult to obtain good initial adhesion over hair and yet, difficult to remove tape from hair after a time. Hair tends to grow medial to lateral, sometimes downward. A technique that may be helpful in removing tape from hair is to catch the upper, medial edge of the tape. Peel the edge of the tape back, forming a small triangle. Supporting the skin adjacent to the tape, glide a small amount of lotion on the leading (peel) edge of the tape. This is often enough to soften the adhesive and release it from hair. Continue to remove the tape “low and slow, back over itself” while gliding the lotion along the edge.

Reassess the skin. If you wish to retape over an area where you used adhesive remover or lotion, you will either need to remove the lotion or adhesive remover or use a lotion that allows you to tape over it. Some lotions that allow you to retape may actually increase adhesion of some tapes on some people, so it is important to use good technique for subsequent tape removal. You may wish to protect areas that will be exposed to repeated taping with an alcohol-free barrier film. Removing the tape will also remove the barrier film, so the film should be reapplied and allowed to dry before retaping