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Skin-friendly products and procedures

Helping you keep patients comfortable while protecting skin from preventable medical adhesive-related skin injuries (MARSI) is of utmost importance. As your ally in care, Solventum provides a wide range of medical tapes, skin-friendly products, and tools to help you maintain and protect the integrity and health of this vital organ.

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Overview Who is at risk How to prevent Products Resources Contact us
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Overview
Who is at risk
How to prevent
Products
Resources
Contact us

Why skin safety matters

Medical Adhesive Related Skin Injury (MARSI), occurs when the stickiness connecting an adhesive tape and skin is stronger than the surface cells, causing the epidermis to separate from the dermis when the tape is removed.

 

MARSI can cause pain, increase the risk of infection and delay healing – all of which can reduce a patient’s quality of life.2

 

Everyone requiring a medical adhesive is at risk of MARSI, with risk increasing with frequency of exposure.1

Secondary Image 2 for use on Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film PDPs featuring skin layer protection image and protects skin against MARSI during dressing or tape removal text

Clinical Manifestations of MARSI

Skin stripping

Mechanical injury
Removal of one or more layers of the stratum corneum following removal of medical adhesive; stripped skin may appear shiny.

MARSI Skin Stripping
Tension injury or blister

Separation of the epidermis from the dermis as a result of distension of skin under an unyielding adhesive; blisters often develop at the edge of the adhesive.

MARSI Tension Injury
Skin tear

Wound caused by shear, friction and/or blunt force resulting in separation of skin layers; can be partial- or full-thickness.

MARSI Skin Tear
Folliculitis

Inflammatory reaction in hair follicle caused by shaving or entrapment of bacteria; appears as small, inflamed elevations of skin surrounding hair follicle.

MARSI Folliculitis
Maceration

Softening and breaking down of the skin resulting from prolonged exposure to moisture; increases susceptibility to damage; skin appears wrinkled and white/gray in color.

MARSI Heel Maceration
Irritant contact dermatitis

Reaction ranging from erythema and scaling to necrotic burns from nonimmunologic damage caused by chemicals in contact with the skin; may appear reddened and swollen.

MARSI Contact Dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis

Rare, cell-mediated immunologic response to adhesive or backing; typically appears as an area of erythematous, vesicular, pruritic dermatitis; persists for up to a week.

MARSI Allergic Dermatitis

Who is at risk

Individuals at high risk for MARSI include those with fragile skin—specifically neonates and the elderly—and patients in critical care, with chronic illnesses, malnutrition, dehydration, or those requiring frequent, long-term adhesive tape or dressing changes; however, experts now concur that a safer approach to preventing and assessing MARSI is to consider that everyone requiring a medical adhesive is potentially at risk.3

MARSI Cheat Sheet

Highlights from new and expanded research on medical adhesive-related skin injuries’ (MARSI’s) epidemiology, assessment, prevention and management to help you prevent unnecessary skin injury, reduce complications and ultimately deliver better patient outcomes.
Learn more

The cycle of reducing MARSI

Assess

Assessment involves a thorough examination and documentation of the skin's condition, including its color, texture, temperature, and any abnormalities. Perform an initial comprehensive assessment and document any existing lesions, followed by daily routine-focused assessments based on the patient’s MARSI risk level and care setting.

An iconographic representation of a magnifying glass with an exclamation point in the center.. Dark green and teal positive color palette.
Select

Choose an appropriate adhesive based on the skin type and intended use, then clean and dry the skin thoroughly to ensure optimal adhesion and reduce the risk of irritation.

An iconographic representation of two bandages crossing over each other. Dark green and teal positive color palette.
Apply

To apply a pressure-sensitive adhesive to the skin, firmly press the adhesive onto clean, dry skin to ensure proper bonding and minimize the risk of detachment. Avoid stretching the adhesive on placement.

An iconographic representation of a dressing being applied. The bandage is partially peeled back with a rectangle dotted outline showing where to apply the bandage and an arrow moving left. Dark green and teal positive color palette.
Remove

Gently peel the adhesive off while supporting the surrounding skin to minimize discomfort and avoid causing damage.

An iconographic representation of a bandage being removed and a do not symbol over a lightning bolt to represent pain-free removal. Dark green and teal positive color palette.

Products

With a broad portfolio of securement and adhesive solutions—including silicone‑based options—Solventum helps clinicians take action to reduce the risk of MARSI.

3M™ Micropore™ S Surgical Tape, 277X Series

3M™ Micropore™ S Surgical Tape, 277X Series

Ensure reliable, skin-friendly securement with the Micropore S surgical tape, 277X Series — our recommended product in the Multi-purpose Securement Class. Ideal for blood draws, lightweight dressings and secondary securement of IV lines and non-critical tubes, our silicone-based tape provides a dependable hold and removes cleanly without damaging the skin to help reduce the risk of Medical Adhesive-Related Skin Injuries (MARSI).

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3M™ Tube Securement Device

3M™ Tube Securement Device

Delivering strong securement and skin performance, the Tube Securement Device is an easy-to-use solution that minimizes skin damage. It is designed to support pressure injury prevention practices for a variety of medical tube and catheter applications. Without any hard plastic components to cause pressure, the securement device’s unique shape minimizes skin and tube contact for patient comfort.

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3M™ Cavilon™ No Sting Barrier Film

3M™ Cavilon™ No Sting Barrier Film

Help prevent skin damage before it occurs with Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film. It’s the original and only terpolymer-based alcohol-free* barrier film that creates a gentle, breathable, waterproof and transparent coating on the skin for 72 hours of protection against friction, shear, adhesives and body fluids.

*Of leading competitors in the market, based on disclosed ingredient information.

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3M™ Medipore™ H Soft Cloth Surgical Tape, 2860 Series

3M™ Medipore™ H Soft Cloth Surgical Tape, 2860 Series

3M™ Medipore™ H Soft Cloth Surgical Tape, 2860 Series is transitioning to Solventum™ Medipore™ H Soft Cloth Surgical Tape. Offering flexibility, Medipore H soft cloth surgical tape is appropriate for clinical applications such as dressings and added pressure, when swelling or movement is anticipated and for securing chest tubes and surgical drain tubes.

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3M™ Nasogastric Securement Device

3M™ Nasogastric Securement Device

Designed to reliably secure nasal feeding tubes and other tubes delivering therapy through the nose in place, the NG securement device is an easy-to-use solution. It helps support pressure injury prevention practices and minimizes the risk of medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI).

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3M™ Dermatac™ Drape

3M™ Dermatac™ Drape

Provide the ideal balance of wound healing support for patients receiving negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with the Dermatac Drape, the first silicone-acrylic hybrid drape designed for use with V.A.C.® Therapy. Combining the benefits of forgiving silicone with the strength and stability of adhesive acrylic, our skin-friendly drape helps to improve handling, placement and patient comfort.

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Contact a Solventum representative

 

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References:
  1. Barton, Andrew; Broadhurst, Daphne; Hitchcock, Jan; Lund, Carolyn; McNichol, Laurie; Ratliff, Catherine R.; Moraes, Juliano Teixeira; Yates, Stephanie; Gray, Mikel. Medical Adhesive-Related Skin Injury at 10 Years: An Updated Consensus. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse. 51(5S):p S2-S8, September/October 2024.
  2. McNichol L, Lund C, Rosen T, Gray M. Medical adhesives and patient safety: state of the science. Consensus statements for the assessment, prevention and treatment of adhesive-related skin injuries. J WOCN. 2013;40(4):365-380
  3. Medical Adhesive‑Related Skin Injury (MARSI): Preventing Patient Harm.” Wounds International, vol. 15, no. 3, 2024, pp. 28–32.