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Substitutes for Tegaderm

Tegaderm is a see-through medical dressing that allows the wound or injection site that it is applied over to breathe. The adhesive material also allows ease in monitoring of the covered area for potential development of infection. Problems with Tegaderm occur in patients who may be allergic to the material or its adhesives. Other adhesive skin compounds do exist.

  1. Athletic Tape

    • Athletic tape has been used in place of Tegaderm by emergency room nurses and diabetics who use permanent injection sites. According to allnurses.com, athletic tape, as well as other forms of paper tape, have been used for I.V. injection sites. The opaqueness of the tape makes it difficult to monitor the sites for infection. This poses a greater health risk if I.V fluids are to be administered in the long term.

    Sterile Gauze

    • According to allnurses.com, sterile gauze has been used in place of Tegaderm over injection sites. The gauze is then wrapped in adhesive tape, providing a sterile environment for the injection. While this still presents the problem of active monitoring for infection, it does reduce the likelihood that an infection will occur.

    Skin Adhesives

    • According to tudiabetes.org, a community of diabetes sufferers run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation, some have found success using Mastisol skin adhesive and Skin Tac as alternatives to Tegaderm. These substances function as a "skin glue" applied in liquid form. As the compound dries it forms an air-tight bond around wounds and injection sites.

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