Rash from Surgical Tape

[rashboy]

I have had a rash develop after each surgery I have had.  (3 in the last 5 years)

It is red and has puss filled bubbles.  It itches badly.

I have taken benedryl and applied an anti-itch cream, but it seems to be spreading.

What else can I do to get rid of it?

[JLWH]

Sounds like a possible allergy to latex that is often in surgical tapes and bandages.  

Besides benedryl, have you tried cold compresses?  

Maybe just take a trip to a walk-in clinic and see what they suggest because the "pus filled" part of things may require an antibiotic cream too just to be on the safe side.  

[JLWH]

By the way, next time you need any sort of bandaging, you might want to make sure that it's Latex Free.  I have to do that as well.  Even ask that they use latex free gloves too.  

[medicmommy]

I've had several patients with the same problem...it's usually from the adhesive...Remove the tape and clean the area with a baby wipe. (It helps remove the rest of the adhesive). Examine the area...If it is bright red, has tiny water-filled blisters and is itchy, it may need more than 1% cortisone cream to treat it...(Try that if you haven't yet.) Benedryl may help, but it won't fix it if the irritation source is still there...something else to consider...The area may now have a staph infection started...Staph LOVES warm, moist spots with broken skin...If it is sore and hot, get your hiney in to the Dr...It may need an antibiotic as well as prednisone to get it under control...If the latter is the case, don't let it go...Staph can get worse rapidly and spread to your entire body...        ~MM

[ChitChatNine]

I ended up with stitch absecesses which are like what you desribe and I have the tape problem, too .. so I only use paper tape which is hypoallergenic.

Keep in mind that everytime you are exposed to latex, the allergy can increase .. key avoidance is prudent in my opinion if it may be the latex.

My 17yr old is anaphylactic to latex (Class II thru bloodwork) and has to be  very careful taking all precautions.  Her recent surgery was done in an allergy OR that was latex free.

Hope this helps.

I ended up on oral antibiotics as well as topical stuffs.

C~

[Jean344]

Hi, I have blisters from surgical tape also. I had some veins removed from my leg. Only one site out of five have the blisters the rest is okay. It was itching and water fillied but now I am taking benedryl and using mupirocin and it is not itching any more but still water filled. It is not soar or hot but I have had mrsa in the past could it be mrsa?