Reaction To Band-aids?

[AshleyE]

I'm not officially diagnosed DH, but recently I've had the little pin-prick blisters that itch like crazy. Mine don't seem to pop, but they are definitely fluid filled. They were only on the underside of my right wrist, until today. A few days ago my cat got in a fight and I had to give her a bath, which resulted in me getting scrathes all over my right arm. I put band-aids over the scratches and now it seems like the bllisters are where the band-aids were. Has anybody else had this problem? Could there be gluten in the adhesive? I went through all my toiletries and made sure they are all gluten free, so I don't think that's the problem. I did eat some toast that was toasted in the same toaster as wheat bread, so I suppose that could be it.

[plantime]

I don't think it's gluten. I have the same reaction, and it is just a common reaction to the adhesive. Next time you have scratches, try just smearing some antibiotic ointment on them and leaving them uncovered. That is how I treat my cat scratches after bathtime!

[MySuicidalTurtle]

My Mom has reactions to some brands.

[AshleyE]

I don't think it's gluten. I have the same reaction, and it is just a common reaction to the adhesive. Next time you have scratches, try just smearing some antibiotic ointment on them and leaving them uncovered. That is how I treat my cat scratches after bathtime!

The main reason I think it might be gluten is because I had a few of them in the same area before using the bandaids, but now they are all over.

[tarnalberry]

There are some 'band-aids' that have adhesive I react to. The reaction can spread somewhat past the initial site, though usually not to, for instance, the other hand. I have never heard of a adhesive bandage with gluten, however. Could the wound have gotten infected?

[elonwy]

Band aids give me crazy rashes, turns my skin bright red and itchy as all hell. When I need something, I use gauze and sterile surgical tape. Looks crazy, but my skin doesn't react. Grrr bandaids.

Elonwy

[MtLady]

How amazing!! Some of you are allergic to bandaids also!!! My last surgery was a nightmare because some of the tape wounds were worse than the incision.. amazing!!! I keep reading your posts and finding the very things that have caused me so much grief over the years.. MtLady

[Rachel--24]

Wow...I never heard of this.

Mostly I cant believe there's actually something I dont react to!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Wow...I never heard of this.

Mostly I cant believe there's actually something I dont react to!

Just so you don't get any ideas!

[Ursa Major]

I have awful reactions to bandaids and most skin tapes as well, which take sometimes YEARS to heal!

When I had my hysterectomy five years ago, things went very wrong (my bladder tore badly, due to being very stuck to the uterus because of three c-sections), and the surgery went from 45 minutes to three hours. Even though I had told them (the surgeon, the nurses and the anesthetist) that I was allergic to regular tape, and they could use nothing other than paper tape, they must have used regular tape after all. Because for four years I had ugly rashes in the shape of tape (perfectly rectangular with clear boundaries) above both eyebrows!

They were red, sometimes fluid filled, sometimes scaly looking, very itchy and finally went away AFTER going gluten-free last fall!

My theory is, that even though DH is caused by deposits under the skin caused by gluten, it can be triggered by things other than gluten through aggravating the skin (even by some other allergy or intolerance). Who knows.

[AshleyE]

I have awful reactions to bandaids and most skin tapes as well, which take sometimes YEARS to heal!

When I had my hysterectomy five years ago, things went very wrong (my bladder tore badly, due to being very stuck to the uterus because of three c-sections), and the surgery went from 45 minutes to three hours. Even though I had told them (the surgeon, the nurses and the anesthetist) that I was allergic to regular tape, and they could use nothing other than paper tape, they must have used regular tape after all. Because for four years I had ugly rashes in the shape of tape (perfectly rectangular with clear boundaries) above both eyebrows!

They were red, sometimes fluid filled, sometimes scaly looking, very itchy and finally went away AFTER going gluten-free last fall!

My theory is, that even though DH is caused by deposits under the skin caused by gluten, it can be triggered by things other than gluten through aggravating the skin (even by some other allergy or intolerance). Who knows.

Wow, that sounds awful. I'm glad they finally healed when you went gluten-free.

I'm so surprised at how many people have had reactions. Thank you all for your input, it's so helpful in figuring out what is normal and what I should be more concerned about. The more I learn about celiac disease, the more surprised I am that my doctors have never once mentioned it in the ten years that I've been having serious problems.

[eKatherine]

I used so many bandaids during my speedskating days that I can only use one for a day, and then I need to remove it and clean off the glue.

[jerseyangel]

When I use a band aid, the exact mark of the whole strip is visable on my skin for several days after I remove it! I don't have any itching or discomfort, though.

[Green12]

When I use a band aid, the exact mark of the whole strip is visable on my skin for several days after I remove it! I don't have any itching or discomfort, though.

I got a skin tag removed a couple weeks ago and the band aid the nurse put on the open wound to send me home with I was fine with, no reaction. But the band aids I had at home to freshly dress the wound I reacted to badly. It made me rash all around the perimeter of the band aid. My guess is it had to be some different ingredient/material between the brands.

[StrongerToday]

Whenever I take a band-aid off you can see the exact layout on my arm for a day or so. I'm always asked if I have a latex allergy (which it's not) but the adhesive clearly bothers me.

[mpeel]

Samantha, my youngest and the one that shows gluten intolerance the most, reacts to bandages. She gets awful rashes. At first, we suspected a latex problem but the box specifically said latex free.

I came here looking as she gets a bad rash around her nose when she gets gluten. The bandage rashes look the same. And both ITch.

MIchelle

[ileanabanana]

Just found out I have Celiac in August of 2009 and had NEVER had a reaction to bandaids/adhesive tape until I because gluten-free. I had the reaction in November. My skin was just red and itchy! Crazy how you start taking away gluten, and you start finding new things your body reacts to.

[Wenmin]

I've always had problems with bandaids, tape, certain kinds of depdorant, etc. To the point that I would bleed when these were used. Now when I go the the doctor, I request just a gauze and I apply the pressure for a few minutes.

Wenmin

[Maggie Mermaid]

I've also had reactions to bandaids but only when I got older. There are rashes & discomfort where the adhesive touches the skin. I asked a nurse about it once & she said it's not uncommon. Nowadays, I just apply pressure, gauze and paper tape.

[misslexi]

I've had blood taken alot over the last 5-6 years and until about 18 months ago maybe, when I started to get alot sicker. I was fine no matter what they used to hold the cotton ball on before then. Suddenly I started getting a huge red rash thing under almost everything they tried. It never itched, just hurt like I never thought a little red spot could haha. I wonder if this will stop happening now that I no longer eat gluten? anyone else have skin reactions like that be less severe?

[Reba32]

I've had bad reactions to the adhesives as well. When I buy band-aids for home, I look for "hypoallergenic" on the label.

I've had a few surgeries, and for the first one (emergency ecptopic removal) and I didn't have time to think about telling the surgeon to use paper surgical tape, when I woke up my belly was full of tape, and itching like crazy. Now I always make sure to tell them whenever I have to go for any procedure!

One other time I didn't think of it, I had to have the 24 hour heart monitor holter on, and the dang circles were burned into my chest for weeks! When the nurse took them off my skin was blistered and bleeding and it peeled and looked horrible. And was very uncomfortable under my bra I must say!

[yucky gluten]

I've had blood taken alot over the last 5-6 years and until about 18 months ago maybe, when I started to get alot sicker. I was fine no matter what they used to hold the cotton ball on before then. Suddenly I started getting a huge red rash thing under almost everything they tried. It never itched, just hurt like I never thought a little red spot could haha. I wonder if this will stop happening now that I no longer eat gluten? anyone else have skin reactions like that be less severe?

I've always avoided the band-aid after a blood draw. The red mark from the adhesive is worse than the stick! The best way to deal with the draw site is to apply pressure with your thumb and raise your arm up in the air. I know is sounds silly, but after two minutes or so, you're blood will have clotted and you'll be ready to leave the lab.

[kareng]

Years ago, I had a boy in Cub Scouts that was allergic to alot of what, we thought, were strange things. Bandaids & tapes were some. If he got a cut & it needed to be covered, we used gauze & the tape but... wrap the gauze all around the finger or arm in many layers then tape or use a stretchy head band to hold it on. Alot of trouble but sucessful & happy Cub Scouts are dirty.

[missy'smom]

One other time I didn't think of it, I had to have the 24 hour heart monitor holter on, and the dang circles were burned into my chest for weeks! When the nurse took them off my skin was blistered and bleeding and it peeled and looked horrible. And was very uncomfortable under my bra I must say!

Yes! Me too-very similar- and whenever I bring it up I think no one belives me. My recent allergy test was neg. for latex(suprizingly kiddo's was positive) but I mean to bring this up with the allergist and see what they can offer as an explanation.

[Reba32]

I don't think it's the latex I have a problem with, I think it's the actual glue on the bandages and tapes.

A LOT of places lately are using hypoallergenic tapes and band-aids, I rarely need to ask for them now. I used to carry my own with me in my purse, now I don't.

If I didn't have a bandaid whenever I had a cut I used to use gauze mostly, and just wrap it around a couple of times and then tie it off, old-fashioned like. Trickier to keep on, but better than having my skin peel off worse than the original cut!