Ever since I upgraded to the G4 it works great... except one issue. I am allergic to the adhesive and breakout in a horrible rash... has anyone else noticed this issue? Dexcom says they have not changed the adhesive., but am a little suspect...
at this point i can't even wear the sensor for a day!
I'm not allergic but it definitely doesn't stick well and it does itch on and off
Here is a post I saved about this exact issue:
It’s been almost a year since the first itchy, blistering rashes showed up underneath my Dexcom sensors, but by taking a very peculiar set of precautions, the rashes are all but gone. Thanks to the use of the J&J Toughpad underneath my Dexcom sensors, I’m able to go a full seven (plus!) days without reacting rashly.
So yay! for no rash. But now keeping that sucker stuck is another issue entirely.
It’s not just the sensor that I’m trying to keep stuck, but the whole Toughpad/sensor combination. Peeling edges of any kind create a domino effect where, if not addressed immediately, the whole sensor will just flop the eff off. (Like on those days when I put a new sensor on and then pull on a pair of pants. If the edge of the Toughpad gets compromised in any way, with rolling edges or peeling, that sensor has a life shorter my fuse … which is unfortunately quite short.)
The life of my average Dexcom G4 sensor goes as follows:
◾Prep my skin by taking a shower. (Or, if I haven’t just showered, I wash my skin with soap and water and let it dry before starting the application process.)
◾Warm up the Toughpad by rubbing it vigorously in my hand. (HA! Mis-wrote that as “rubbing it vigorously with my nad” at first. Nad warming. Bwaaa haaaa!)
◾Stick the Toughpad to my skin and press firmly, making sure it’s stuck.
◾Remove the adhesive backing from the Dexcom sensor and place the sensor on top of the Toughpad, so that none of the sensor adhesive is touching my skin.
◾Install the sensor. And roll on with it, as is, for a few days.
◾Once the Toughpad starts to peel (usually around day three or four), I slap some magical Opsite Flexifix tape on the edges.
◾Once the tape is starting to peel and the edges of the Toughpad are lifting away from my skin a little bit, I use the teeny, super-sharp scissors from my sewing kit and snip away the un-stuck edges of tape and Toughpad, leaving a smaller ring of Toughpad around the sensor base.
◾Then I tape that ■■■■ down again.
◾This snip-and-tape process goes on for as long as I can manage, helping prolong the life of the sensor and to also keep my frustration at a reasonable level. See the photo above for a Dexcom sensor/Toughpad combo that’s been whittled down.
I don’t know why it works, but it does, and it helps keep my Dexcom sensor stuck for the FDA-approved seven days … and then some.
Here’s a link to the Opsite Flexifix tape, and to the Toughpads, in case you’re interested in checking them out.
PS: You can get the Tough pads and Opsite Flexifix on Amazon
With the rash issue you might try Skin Prep. It's like an alcohol wipe that leaves behind a thin layer that the adhesive attaches to, so maybe it would help.
Here is what I'm doing to keep it on longer. I recently was sweating it out while getting my insurance company to approve and order (don't ask) more sensors), so I needed to get my last sensor to last over 2-3 weeks, but I just started week 4 since it is going well.
First, either use an alcohol wipe or skin prep before attaching the Dexcom sensor. In my case I also shave the site. Pretty standard stuff there.
What seems to be the sticking problem for me is friction along the edges as well and the transmitter itself getting yanked occasionally. So I cover it with Hypafix tape (4inX40 yard roll is pretty cheap) with about 1/2 inch overlap. I use 2 pieces which overlap in the center and I trim their corners so they are rounded. By using 2 pieces when I pull the dirty and old hypafix tape off, I can pull each piece up from the center without pulling any of the Dexcom sensor tape up. Then I replace the Hypafix tape weekly. If the hypafix tape starts coming up (or the Dexcom tape is coming up when I check it, I use Skin Tac to glue it back down. It seems that the Skin Tac will permeate through the Hypafix tape, so you might be able to just wipe the outside. I'm not sure, but the Skin Tac works.
Also, the site I'm using is the top of the thigh, about where the bottom of a front pants pocket would be.