How PE Tape Dressing Microporous Tech Aids Healing

Introduction: An Overlooked Aspect of Wound Care

Although much of the focus in wound care is on the wound padding, the taping or securing of that dressing also plays a vital role in the healing of a wound. A surgical dressing with poor breathability aided with PE tape may slow wound healing, whereas a well-designed microporous tape may assist the process.

PE tape has been a recent choice of tape that is used to secure dressings, IV lines, and other medical devices. Its microporous structure is a considerable improvement in the technology of medical tape, and caters to the physiological requirements of skin healing.

Why Skin Needs to Breathe

The Science of Transepidermal Water Loss

Skin is an active tissue, and regardless of posture, there is a daily continuous movement of water in the form of a vapor. Over the course of a day, approximately 500 g of water is excreted from a square meter of skin in a vapor. This process is known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and is important in maintaining skin health.

What Happens When Breathability is Not Allowed?

When tapes become watertight, skin becomes vulnerable to several conditions.

•Maceration: the skin gets swollen and wrinkled

•Delayed Healing: completely watertight tapes completely seal the closure of the outer layer of skin and the healing of the underlying tissues.

•Infection: tapes that seal moisture create a breeding ground for bacteria.

•Damaged Skin Barrier: the outer layer of skin that makes up the barrier has been permanently and irreversibly damaged.

Finding the Right Balance

Research has shown that the best healing is achieved with semi-permeable wound dressings that allow moisture escape. Dressings are not completely open or completely closed. Balanced gradients of moisture provide the best healing. Breathable dressings on PE tape maintain skin moisture, and allow the skin to breathe, and excess moisture to escape.

Microporous Technology and the Engineering of Breathability

What is Microporous Tape?

Microporous tape has countless tiny pores on its backing. These are large enough for air and water vapor. These tape maintains strength and stickiness while providing a ventilation pathway.

Microporous tape is built into polyethylene film. An example of this tape is Greetmed's PE tape dressing, which allows:

•Air to Streamline: Oxygen can reach skin surface.

•Humidity Build Up is Averted: Moisture can escape.

•Skin Dryness and Integrity are Maintained: Not all moisture will lead to skin deterioration.

•Breathability and Adhesion are Maintained. Adhesive is secured in place by design.

Importance of Engineering

The engineering of microporous tape involves a high level of precision. Some designs include:

•Pore Size: A balance of smooth surface for cohesive strength of the adhesive, and small enough to allow a vapor path.

•Porosity: A range of 30% to 60% is considered optimal for strength and breathability.

•Spacing of pores: The distribution of pores of even size assists in the effective passing of air through the entire area of the structure which is taped.

Clinical Benefits of Breathable PE Tape Dressing

1. Preventing Skin Maceration

Skin maceration is a common problem with non-breathable tape. The softening and weakening of the skin causes the tape to inflict friction damage to the skin, causing pain and increasing the risk of infection.

The tape also causes pain upon removal. A PE tape dressing lets moisture escape, breaking this cycle. In the days of the tape's use, the skin remains dry and healthy.

2. Reducing Bacterial Growth

Bacteria prefer a warm and moist environment. Microporous tape creates a stagnant environment for bacteria. A rapid flow of air eliminates the conditions for bacteria to thrive. This characteristic of the tape is helpful for:

•Post-surgery wound care

•Management of chronic wounds

•Stabilizing IV sites

•Fixation of medical devices of prolonged duration

3. Healing

A PE tape dressing allows gas exchange and helps combat wound hypoxia. Wound healing occurs better with less hypoxia because it allows for:

•The formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis)

•Activity of the immune cells (immunity)

•The repair and restoration of the lost and damaged tissue (regeneration)

4. Patient Comfort

Tape made from a breathable material helps the patient and causes a positive clinical outcome in the following ways:

•Skin becomes less irritated and less dry.

•Once again, skin problems are reduced with PE tape, which is latex-free and hypoallergenic.

•Patients are able to use this tape for longer periods of time.

This skin tape is also much stronger and less likely to break.

Greetmed's Approach: Practical Innovation

After 20 years of experience (Greetmed which is established in 2003), Greetmed has added the breathability concept of their PE surgical tape. Greetmed's PE tape dressing contains:

•Design of Polyethylene + microporous: Incorporates air/vapor breathability.

•Hypoallergenic adhesive: Superior bonding remains skin friendly and allows for long-term wear.

•Perforated backing: Fast and easy application anywhere and can be torn with ease, no scissors needed.

•Transparent/Semi Transparent: Appearing see-through to the skin or the underlying dressing.

•Different Variations: Offered in various measurements.  Widths of 1.25 cm - 10 cm, and lengths of 5m, 5y, or 10y.

Greetmed PE tapes are available in sterile and non-sterile options. Greetmed PE tapes are CE, ISO13485, and FDA certified.

Choosing the Right Breathable Tape: A Quick Guide

1. When Should PE Tape Dressing be Used/Preferred

•   For patients with more sensitive skin: it is both hypoallergenic and latex-free.

•   For long wear: Its breathability prevents breakdown over days of use.

•   For more frequent changes: It helps to lessen the stress of the patient by promoting easier removal and reapplication.

•   For more difficult areas to tape: The tape is designed to be more flexible and allows for movement.

2. What to Look For When Buying

•   Microporous vs Perforated: Simply being perforated does not mean the material is necessarily breathable. For example, microporous materials are more breathable.

•   Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate: Generally the higher the better.

•   Breathable Adhesives: Breathability should not compromise the strength of the adhesive.

•   Certifications: CE, FDA, or ISO13485.

Final Notes: Why Breathability Is so Important.

Breathability is undeniably important for medical tapes, especially clinically. Breathable PE tape with microporous technology is able to meet the skin's physiological needs by allowing moisture to escape, and gas exchange to occur without being conclusive and creating an obstructive environment for healing.

Breathability and moisture are also important for the healing process and research is rapidly determining the importance and role of moisture in healing and recovering of the wound. As a result, breathable fixation tapes are becoming the standard for care. PE surgical tape by Greetmed is a breath of fresh air in fixating tapes.

Especially in a clinical and post-operative environment, the type of tape used is paramount. Unlike its competitors, a breathable PE tape dressing improves the quality of healing.

FAQs

Q: Can this be used for sensitive skin?

A: Yes. PE tape applies a hypoallergenic adhesive and does not contain latex which makes it safe for sensitive and fragile skin.

Q: What's a sterile vs non-sterile tape?

A: During a surgery and for open wounds, a sterile tape is required. Non-sterile is adequate for a regular and routine dressing fixation, and home care.

Q: How does a microporous differ from a regular perforated tape?

A: Regular perforated tape has larger and oftentimes irregular holes. Microporous tape has evenly sized and evenly distributed round holes.

Q: Would it hurt to remove this?

A: No. Moisture-free skin, and the gentle adhesive, allows for a clean and pain-free removal.

Q: Can this be applied on a joint/taped around a curve?

A: Yes. PE film is flexible and will easily contour around body parts such as the knees and elbows.