Is this an allergic reaction to a bandaid?

Is the redness where the sticky part was? Or, is it beyond the sticky part? Is the redness growing/spreading?

It looks like it’s from the bandaid, so either the adhesive or if it’s a latex bandaids thats a common allergy.

The Nexcare clear and waterproof are some of the few my husband and I can use.

You can put some OTC cortisone in it to calm it down. First wash it with soap to remove any adhesive.

The redness is where the sticky part was and it has spread since I took it off. I bought a cheap dollar general brand of bandaid.

It has spread? The only thing I caution is to be sure it’s not an infection spreading.

I just went through this with my husband who had something removed. I had to use gauze and the Nexcare bandaids to hold it on, because the bandaid didn’t have a large enough “gauze” area.

I had a small birthmark on my neck so I took cuticle cutters and cut it out myself. It didn’t work at first and I had to cut away at it a few times.
My face turned pale and I felt like passing out for a second, but was fine.
I put some Polysporin on it and a cheap band aid.
I checked out the wound later on and I think it was red too where the band aid was.
I washed it where it was red and then I was out of band aids after a few so I left it uncovered.
The redness dissapeared on me pretty quickly and my neck healed up nice and clear so far.
Polysporin seemed to work.
Good luck.

I get this kind of reaction too to certain types of sticky tape – usually I am ok with bandaids but can react to micropore tape which is used here with a dressing pad for a larger wound. I think @JLeslie has some good advice about the cortisone cream – that should help, but make sure you just put it on the irritated skin, not the wound itself. I’d also throw away those cheapo bandaids!

I wanted to add that if you let the wound “dry” you are more likely to scar. You were probably advised to keep it moist with antibiotic ointment or Vaseline. That will reduce scarring.

It could be an allergic reaction to the adhesive.

My daughter uses Tegaderm and Coban. Neither use adhesives. If she’s exposed to adhesives it can quickly turn into an emergency.

It’s still red today but not as bad as last night. I’m definitely getting new bandaids.

I was told to remove the bandaid the following day after surgery and dab the wound with rubbing alcohol and apply Polysporin four times a day. They said it needs to dry out so it doesn’t become infected. I used the bandaid yesterday because I was moving furniture and wearing jeans that irritated the wound. I’m back to airing it out now.

Thanks everyone!

Polysporin keeps it moist. Usually, dermatologist say wash with mild soap, and then once dry, apply ointment and cover with a bandage/gauze. “Dry out” and scab, would be old school way of thinking, not that it’s dangerous, just more likely to scar.

I only say it again, because if you have written instructions, which you should, then you might want to double check the wording. It can’t be dry and covered in ointment, unless we are using the word differently.

It’s a little contact dermatitis. If it itches put some cortisone cream on it.