Why your dressing keeps falling off
Six causes, in the order they are worth checking. Most are about the skin, not the adhesive.
If dressings will not stay on, the adhesive is rarely the culprit. Work through these in order.
1. The skin was damp
The most common cause by far. Adhesive needs dry skin. Pat the surrounding area dry with a gauze swab and give it a few seconds before applying.
2. Moisturiser, oil or sweat
Any emollient in the area defeats the bond. So does applying a dressing to skin that is already sweating — cool down first.
3. The dressing was too small
If the adhesive border lands on or near the wound edge, it has nothing healthy to grip and it will lift. Size up.
4. It was stretched on
Pulling the dressing taut as you apply it stores tension. As the adhesive relaxes it pulls its own corners up. Lay it down without tension, centre first.
5. It is over a joint
Skin at a knuckle, knee or elbow moves a long way. Apply with the joint in its mid-range position rather than fully straight, so the dressing is not at full stretch every time it bends.
6. Hair
Adhesive grips hair, not skin, and every movement tugs. Clipping — not shaving, which irritates — helps on hairy areas.
If it still will not hold, secure the edges with a strip of zinc oxide tape rather than replacing the dressing repeatedly.
See a pharmacist, GP or urgent care if a wound will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, is deep or gaping, was caused by something dirty or rusty, contains anything you cannot flush out, or shows spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever. Get help urgently for animal or human bites, wounds over a joint, and any wound in someone with diabetes or poor circulation.
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FitMedix products are CE-marked medical devices intended for the care of minor wounds. This site does not provide medical advice — seek professional help for deep, dirty or non-healing wounds, or if signs of infection appear. Always read the instructions on the pack.