I think I have an adhesive allergy. I get incredibly itchy wearing the Dexcom sensor. What suggestions do you have for curtailing the itchiness?
I just bought Skin Tac and Skin Prep - both as a possible barrier between the skin and adhesive.
Tonight I had to pull out a sensor because I could not stand it anymore. LOL It was about 5 days. (It also was incredibly inaccurate - so I had another reason to pull it). Now - interestingly, I am on an Animas pump and the infusion set (Inset) adhesive does not bother me at all.
I don't think Skin Tac will help much, it just helps the sensor stay on longer. I would try something like Tegaderm, IV 3000, or Opsite Flexifix on your skin, with a hole cut in the center, then put the Dexcom sensor on over the top of that.
Have you used any adhesives or barriers at all yet? If not you are on the right track. have had good luck with Skin Tac for many years now. I tried Mastisol for stronger adhesion in the summer months but I had a nasty allergy to it and had to pull the sensor, sounds similar to your experience. Others use Tegaderm as a barrier, hopefully some of them will post as well.
Hi, Susan. So sorry to learn of your problem. I read on another website about a person who also had an allergic reaction to adhesive, and that person recommended Bard Protective Barrier film wipes, which deters skin irritants like adhesives. I found it on Amazon. You might want to check it out, too. I have it on my Wish List there just in case I might get an allergic reaction since I'm sensitive to so many things. I don't know personally if it works as I haven't had to buy it yet, thank goodness. Hope you find some relief really soon.
Susan, where are you wearing the sensor? My daughter used to wear it at the top of her bum until she started getting horrible, itchy rashes. Turns out it was a fungal skin infection. And it was causing highly inaccurate numbers,as it did for you.
She is now wearing it on her back, just above her waistline, and I've started using J&J Tough Pads. You can get them at Walmart, Target, pharmacies, etc.
I use a Hollister skin gel protective wipe on the area first, let it dry, then put the tough pad on. (I cut a hole for the sensor to go through. Others don't and have success, but when I tried inserting through the pad, the sensor failed in 1 1/2 days.)
Then I put the sensor on top of the tough pad. Not only has my daughter not gotten a rash (yet), but the sensor adhesive sticks to the tough pad like there's no tomorrow! Good luck!
I had an allergic reaction to either my Dexcom or my Omnipod that resulted in itching. Another fellow T1 on the Omnipod had the same reaction and recommended Bard Protective Barrier Film and it seems to work. Good Luck.
I have the opposite issues. I have no irritation at all from the Dexcom adhesive, but the adhesive on the infusion sets for my Asante Snap pump (that call them 'Conset' - but, I think they're Inset), leaves my skin itchy after a couple days -- In fact, even after I remove the set, the skin stays itchy for as much as a week.
On the advice of my endo, I have been applying cortisone cream to the site immediately after removing a set and it has helped. I realize, that infusion sets stay on a lot shorter than sensors, so this idea may be "too little, too late." I have not yet tried any barrier options.
So far the Skin Prep wipes are working. I also have used the Skin Tac when re-sticking the sides of the sensor pod when it starts to come loose. I tried Tegaderm - but think that has partially caused the itchiness I have. I know there are a lot of wipes like the two I am trying that do provide a protective barrier. The Skin Prep so far seems to be less irritating.
Thanks. I think I will try the Bard wipes too. So far the Skin Prep pads - pediatric tested - seem to be working. Whew! I think the Tegaderm has been a problem for me also - so I am just going to try keeping the sensor on without it and only use it for the last few days of sensor life if needed to keep it stuck on my skin.
So far the Skin Prep pads have been working. They, like Skin TAc, leave a sticky film on your skin and provide a barrier. I thought I would try them because they say they are pediatric tested - so they might be less harsh than Skin Tac.
My personal experience in this area was not, I think, the result of a skin allergy. But it was related to my use of CGM since it happened in an area where I had inserted a sensor.
I was skeptical from the start about the possibility that my itchiness might be the result of some form of skin allergy. I have been inserting infusion sets for decades with never a problem from those adhesives. I also have not had problems with skin irritation before or since that one with my CGM sensors.
My guess is that I just wasn't careful enough about taking care of my skin during the winter. I let it dry out too much, and then possibly (probably?) I opened the door for some type of a skin infection as aimeeh2oski's daughter apparently had. Once it started I kept making it worse because of the itching, and it got pretty ugly before I turned the tide.
I finally got it to go away and stopped the itching by covering it with a Tegaderm patch to allow it to heal. This is also another reason why I doubt it was an adhesive allergy. Covering the area with a Tegaderm and/or Opsite Flexifix "dressing" stopped the itching in my case. It also stopped me from physically scratching the area and making the problem worse. So the adhesive on those coverings clearly weren't causing this problem.
The other treatment I followed, when I was able to stop covering it with Tegaderm, was to use one of the oatmeal based Aveeno skin moisturizing lotions. It probably also helps that the weather is warming up now.
If I'd had the sense to do that before my skin got dried out, I probably could have saved myself from the entire episode.
My skin is very sensitive to lots of things. Using the Skin Prep has helped tremendously. The site is adhering well and no itchiness. I think when it does not adhere well - stuff might get underneath the tape. I get even itchier using the Tegaderm - especially when it starts peeling away and sometimes when it is not.
I am going to try the skin prep with the Tegaderm to see if that gets me even better results - only because I want to wear the sensor for at least 2 weeks and I am noticing the sides of the tape on the sensor are starting to curl....
I do sometimes get a little itchy with my infusion sets - but it is a much smaller area.
after a yr of fsl usage, i also have sensor irritation on spot at skin. Started 4 sensors ago and got more severe till latest one just fell off because skin produced moist at spot. the wound, itchy, slowly fade now and doctor told ‘allergic response’… i always had dry skin and would like to believe John’s theory…
Irrational_john, how is it a yr after your post ?
