The Science Of Adhering To Skin – It's Trickier Than You Think

By Janna Fischer, 3M 

From wound care dressings to drug delivery solutions, the demands for attaching devices to human skin have increased as medical technologies have increased. Choosing the right adhesive raises many questions including: How long will the device be attached to the patient? Where will the sensor be placed on the body? And, what skin types or conditions are encountered? This article covers the important aspects of choosing the right adhesive, and presents an example of Breathe Right nasal dilator strips made with 3M adhesive medical materials.