The bottle I use is so tiny and sturdy that I doubt there is enough air inside of it (especially since you can fill it) to cause swelling and leakage. I’ve not had the large bottles leak–I carry them routinely (eyedrops) along with that Skin Tac bottle, when flying for vacations.
Unlike some others, I paint the adhesive of the sensor rather than painting my skin. This allows me to get the edges of the sensor sticky without worrying about having stickiness on my skin around the sensor. This normally keeps my sensor attached for 10-14 days. If the edges start to peel up, I apply a Dexcom over-patch.
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Do you wait 1-2 minutes for the Skin Tac to tack-up, Laddie? I tried applying it to the adhesive but had less luck than applying to the skin and letting it tack up. I think what’s going on adhesion-wise (regardless if you wait or don’t wait for it to get tacky) is a different animal, between the two methods.
I’ll explain further: given that I’ve got a lot of shop experience with a wide variety of adhesives of all types, I know that when TWO surfaces are tacky (the best example is contact adhesive for wood), the bond is both immediate and extraordinarily strong if done correctly and the product is one of the better ones on the market. Those types of adhesives don’t work if the adhesive is applied to just one side. The same thing is going on with a sensor adhesive dressings-to-skin interface. For maximum strength, it’s important that BOTH surfaces be treated with an appropriate adhesive. While your method works for you I think it’s important to point out to others that it may not be THE BEST method of application. I know we are all individuals, like how I like Sure-T’s and some people can’t stand steel sets. 
You make a good point about contact cements. At same time Laddie makes a good point about wanting to make sure the outer edges are stuck down.
I’m thinking I should cut out a cardboard template to help put Skin-Tac on my skin especially around the edges.
oh, trust me, I fully understand her not wanting excess Skin Tac outside the boundaries of the sensor. Been there; done that many times. Which is why I now skip the Skin Tac and just use the free overtapes. But I use the G5 which, from what I’ve heard from many users, has superior adhesion to the G6. If/when I get switched to the G6, I hope that by then Dexcom has improved the adhesive. They know it’s a problem as I have spoken directly to them about it.
They’ve already started to correct it. My last few boxes of G6 sensors adhered to my body the whole ten days without over tape or skin tac. I’ve been in 88 degree weather with 75% humidity for the last 3 weeks without a sensor beginning to peel off before the session ran out.
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I wait for the Skin Tac to dry and then apply. It sticks well immediately. It is possible (likely) that I would get better adhesion if I put it on my arm also, but I don’t need better adhesion. It lasts 2 weeks except maybe 1 out of 4 times that I put on an overpatch at about 10 days.
I mostly don’t have issues with the adhesive, but sometimes if I’ve spent a lot of time in the water or sweating the edges do peel up a bit. I ordered some overpatches from Amazon manufactured by SIMPATCH and they work great.
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I apply Skin Tac to the adhesive of the sensor, but not right around the filament. After some showers, but definitely after I wash my hair and snorkeling I touch it up!
I used to get a mess adding the touch ups, it would get gunky. I have solved that by getting my husband to use a Q tip to apply more to the adhesive where it starts to come up at the edges. This has worked much better for me. I have to get my husband to do it as I wear them on the back of my arm.
I’ve been using only skin-tac for about 2 years. I put it directly on the tape and its usually only about 10-15 seconds before I stick it on my arm. I do triathlons which involves a lot of sweaty exercise. I never have any problem getting the sensor to stay on for 14 days (G5) or 10 days (G6). I always wear the sensor on the back of my upper arm.
I agree… I paint SkinTac right onto the pads and then onto my skin. I find that if you paint the SkinTac on vertically (opposite direction from where you pull the little paper tabs out of the sensor), then you’re less likely to damage the adhesion surface of the sensor…
I’ve used different kinds of patches, but always wait to apply it until halfway through the ten days, or later, to give the original adhesive a chance to live out its life, and then the new sticker to live out its maximum usefulness for however many days I wear it.
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Thanks Jen, for confirming my idea about overpatches applied halfway through makes sense! I’m just a CGM newbie but this idea has worked out well already!
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My son receiving a G6 this week. So you apply a tegaderm on skin (without cutting a hole) and then insert the sensor on top? and with no over patch? Thanks for your help.
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I had a terrible time with the 1st Dexcom sensor I put on, within days it was falling off. Lots of people had recommended Skin Tac and I used that and it’s worked great ever since. I also ordered the overpatch, but it was as bad as the original adhesive for me. I ordered Grif Grips because they were cute but had an allergic reaction to them. I have a tendency to have allergies to adhesives.
Yes, I’ve done this for years. It works like a charm! I hope it works as well for your son!
And it works maybe because the adhesive of the sensor secures to the tegaderm rather than the skin with hair etc. maybe? Thanks. Will give it a try.
When you say the tegaderm is precut, do you mean the 2 3/8 INCH X 2 3/4 INCH patches? Thanks again.
Another thing I’ve learned: the instructions show you are supposed to rub around the edge of the patch several times to activate the adhesive after application.
And the video clips from Dexcom show it being done rather lazily.
I have had superior results with much more vigorous rubbing around the edge of the patch to the point where my fingertip is warm from the friction.
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I get the 4" x 4 3/4". I’ve tried the smaller size, but I have had much better success with the larger size.
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Tegaderm-Transparent-Film-Dressing/dp/B000PYP5R4
I’ve thought that too, that it is easier and cleaner for the Dexcom tape to stick to the smooth surface of the Tegaderm. I’m sure that helps it stay on for extended periods of time too.
Follow their directions for application and removal:
@Tim12 You’re talking about rubbing the Dexcom tape agressively, right? The Tegaderm video above mentions at the end of application to rub firmly over the entire dressing. Both are probably intended to make sure the adhesive has made complete contact with the skin.
Edited to add:
In regards to the Tegaderm, I wouldn’t rub its surface vigorously to the point you’re suggesting. And, I wouldn’t (and I don’t) rub the Dexcom tape that vigorously once it is applied on top of the Tegaderm. This sounds like it might be a good suggestion for when you are just using the Dexcom adhesive directly on the skin.