Maggi Tebrake, 3M

How Using Medical Adhesives Gives Your Products a Competitive Advantage

By Maggi Tebrake, Ph.D.
Maggi Tebrake, 3M

Adhesives are ubiquitous. With virtually limitless applications, the retail stick-to skin market is a good choice for companies looking to expand their product offerings.

Whether you’re already selling stick-to-skin products, or are just considering getting into this market, one of the most crucial questions you face is, what adhesives will you use to put the “stick” in your stick-to-skin applications?

Skin can have reactions to many things that it comes in contact with, such as adhesives. That’s why, in healthcare and medical device applications, any adhesive used for skin contact must be tested for biocompatibility. This may reduce the risk of the adhesive causing a major skin irritation.

There are clear advantages to using medical adhesives for retail stick-to-skin applications. In any brand-focused market, trust is essential. Adhesives that may cause skin reactions can erode that trust and damage your brand’s reputation.
Once you’ve decided to use a medical adhesive, the next question is, Which adhesive technology is the best fit for a given application?

Customer expectations for retail stick-to-skin applications require a difficult balancing act. For example, here are some common performance characteristics requested by consumers:

  • Good adhesion during use—but also gentle to the skin when removed.
  • Breathable—but also waterproof.
  • Resistant to friction—but also soft and conformable with every movement.

For companies looking to branch out into the retail stick-to-skin market, selecting a product that is manufactured using the standards of the medical industry for customer safety and satisfaction to help protect your customers and your brand is important.

For more information, download the whitepaper, “Do You Make Retail Products That ‘Stick to Skin’?”

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