Has anyone experienced itching on the skin around the adhesive of the pod or underneath the adhesive of the pod? If so, do you have ANY helpful suggestions to stopping the itching or even reducing the itching?
My son Rob is going insane itching his skin around the pod and at times trying to get under the adhesive to itch. I have tried lotion and this morning hydrocortisone cream. Currently I have a wrist band around the pod to hopefully help take the itching off his mind because he is on the verge of just ripping the pod off!
I have had this issue (not really with the Pod so much as my dexcom). When I called insulet about it they suggested that I make sure I “generously use alcohol preps” before pod placement, then also to use the same prep "all around the pod and On the patch (under the pod itself)) after placement. Since this is now my standard operating procedure, I have not had a real problem with itch. (and I am a very sensitve skinned person). Good luck and PEACE!
Try Benedryl gel. Let it dry completely then apply the pod. I have had this problem with a few pods. For some reason it tends to happen when I’ve pulled the skin prior to applying the pod instead of just laying down the pod. Try putting some of the gel on the itching areas around the pod also.
Thank you Steve! We usually apply alcohol swabs in the area we are placing the pod. But we have not used around the adhesive after placing the pod. Will give it a try! THANKS!!
I had this EXACT problem about a year ago. I noticed the pods became extremely itchy and the skin underneath became almost raw. I called Insulet and they suggested Benadryl Gel, as someone previously posted, and it worked really well. I eventually started to get that same awful itch again, so I began changing the pods more frequently. After a while, I had no more problems with the itching. I think it was that certain batch of pods, although Insulet didn’t want to believe that. During the time of the irritation I called Insulet very frequently out of frustration and discomfort! I also wanted to just rip it off! Anyway, I think certain batches are just more irritating to my skin…but who knows! Good luck with your son!
I am also experiencing terrible itching under the pods. It takes all my willpower not to just rip them off. It seems like the hot weather and maybe this batch of pods are getting to me. I am going to try one of these ideas and see if it helps. Thanks everyone
Sunflwr508…I believe you are right…I think we might have a bad pod in this batch. Fortunately, we have been able to distract him of the itching because it’s still on after another day…
I also had that problem. I now use “shield skin” by coloplast, used to be Memcor which I buy on line at allegro.com. They are very inexpensive. I just wipe the area before I place the pod and all is well. No more itching. Another bonus…it helps the pod stick. Good luck
I’ve been having the same problem this summer with the insane heat and humidity. In the winter I simply took a shower before pod change and that seemed to work for my sensitive skin. That was not working this summer (since pods were sweating off) and I started using Masitol and/or Skin Tak. That worked for a while but then I started having red, itchy welts on my body after pod changes. I have started using Tegaderm and that seems to be working great! I put the tegaderm down first and that keeps my skin itch free and keeps my pod holding tight.
Does it itch regardless of where you put the Pod? I have sensitive skin also, but I only have itchy skin if I place the Pod on certain areas of my body like near the sides above my waist. Note where the Pods seem to irritate the skin the most and, obviously, avoid those sites. Skin that has not been exposed to air and sun tends to be more sensitive, so see if putting the Pod elsewhere makes a difference.
Like others, I have noticed that this summer tends to be particularly bad on all of us. I live in Wisconsin, and when it isn’t raining and flooding, the humidity and mosquitoes are still both enough to kill you!
Sherry Ann… It only seems to be on his arms, which are exposed to sun and air constantly. But also he has always had sensitive skin. It’s 104 degrees here and he is either shirtless or wearing a short sleeve shirt. He is a tall thin boy. He doesn’t have much property on his body for placement of the pod. We tried his lower back and it would just come off when playing and bending. We tried the front of his stomach, which worked well. We did purchase some Benadryl gel and has helped (or psychologically it has). Usually after we put the gel on we put on a wrist band to cover the pod, when pod is located on his arm. It seems to work. The wrist band is loose and breathable. But whatever we are doing it’s working…
I’m glad it’s improved. I don’t think this is your issue, but I’ll throw this out there just in case or for future reference. Caleb starting itching once and his doctor suggested that the dryness of his skin in the spots he was using the Pods was causing the irritation. We began using Eucerin cream on those spots, they have softened and he no longer itches. It was an instant improvement. It just went away.
He still has issues with DexCom and we’ve used a bunch of barriers but haven’t solved that problem completely. A “Tips” chart was just brought to my attention that might be helpful to folks. It’s on Insulet’s website - the first PDF listed as “Pod Placement and Adhesion Tips”
Lorraine, Thank you for this added tip! Thank you for sharing the “TIps” chart on insulet’s website! BTW…my email with 50 million questions to you got deleted. So, I have started over…
