Adhesive plaster

Who of us does not know this: a little inattention or a little mishap and you've already sustained an injury. Although usually not bad, it is advisable to treat the wound immediately. The first step should always be to disinfect the injured area to prevent germs from entering. Then it makes sense to cover the relevant point. That's what one stands for Number of options available. One of them is this Adhesive plaster.

What is a sticking plaster?

A sticking plaster is a textile adhesive tape for fixing wound dressings and an important part of a quick bandage. It is defined, among other things, as a strip of fabric or plastic provided with a mulch layer. This consists of a transparent, micro-perforated polyethylene film with polyacrylate adhesive.

A fixation plaster or tape is also a special adhesive plaster with special properties, which is mainly used in orthopedics. In medicine in general it is a textile adhesive tape for fixing purposes for gauze, gauze bandages or compresses.

Shapes, types & types

A large number of different adhesive plasters are available for wound care, which can be used depending on the injury. The location of the wound to be treated is also important, as not every material is suitable for every region of the body.

One possibility is a water-repellent and oil-resistant film that can be stuck to almost any part of the skin. For particularly difficult and sensitive areas on the body, there are adhesive plasters made of skin-friendly and soft fleece material. Above all, these prevent sore adhesive edges and avoid uncomfortable feelings for the patient. For less sensitive, but clearly visible areas, the dressing can consist of transparent micro-perforated film.

The air permeability of a material is also important. For example, an open wound should be protected, but not hermetically sealed. This is why adhesive plasters are also available made from permeable adhesive fleece.

For complete fixation of the bandage, it is important that the edges of the area to be treated are firmly but not hermetically taped. Sterile material is urgently required in order to avoid additional inflammation. In specialist shops, the adhesive plaster is usually offered on spools with a protective ring. This form of packaging ensures that the dressing material can be unrolled without problems and protects the adhesive surface until it is used.

Since injuries and their extent are very different, adhesive plasters are also offered in different widths and vary between 1.5 and 5.0 cm. Adhesive tapes that are used as tape are also available in other widths.

Structure & functionality

The structure of the material, which is used as the basis for the adhesive plaster, is very similar to that of the simple adhesive tape. In general, either a strip-shaped plastic film or a textile fabric is coated with adhesive on one or both sides. The product only needs one processed surface, as the other side must not have an adhesive function.

The first adhesive plaster was produced by Beiersdorf AG as early as 1925. At that time, however, only the edges were glued, which is why the adhesion was not sufficient. The carrier material must be fully coated to ensure durability.

Originally, grease, oil or wax were mixed with turpentine and painted on canvas or creton. This type of adhesive plaster was marketed under the name "Leukoplast". Products that can also be used as tape are made of elastic, stretchable textile material to which a polyacrylic adhesive is applied.

The different ways in which the adhesive plasters work can be explained by the fact that they can be used for different health problems. In the case of smaller wounds, a dressing is first placed on the injured area. The appropriate adhesive tape is then attached to the surrounding skin so that the overlay remains in the desired position.

The elasticity of the respective carrier material can be influenced by the different thickness of the coating. If you have an injury to the musculoskeletal system, there is a special tape, the kinesiotape, which is also a kind of adhesive plaster. With skillful use and certain adhesive techniques, it supports the function of the affected joints and prevents excessive stress.

Medical & health benefits

The medical benefit of adhesive plasters lies not only in the better care of wounds, but also in the variety of its possible uses. In the outpatient and inpatient treatment of patients, it is used to fix bandages, tubes, cannulas or the like and thus significantly simplifies the work of the nursing staff.

Even in the case of major injuries, the bandage can be prevented from slipping and unwanted germs have no attack surface. Due to the different properties such as "water-repellent" or "skin-friendly", the area around the wound is not additionally irritated.

Another possible use of the adhesive plaster is as a nasal plaster. For this, the strips are wider and rounded at the ends. The aim of this treatment is to improve nasal breathing while sleeping by increasing the supply of oxygen. The problem of snoring should also be positively influenced by this patch.

The adhesive plaster offers another great health benefit, especially as a kinesiotape. It consists of an elastic and self-adhesive cotton fabric. The incorporated elastane fibers make it particularly stretchy and flexible. With many injuries to the musculoskeletal system, the affected area can be supported and immobilized using different adhesive techniques.