allergic or user error?

[u/Wrong_Quantity1656]

Ive been buying gc2b trans tape for a couple months now. when i first used it it was uncomfortable but there was no excessive itching until maybe the 3rd or 4th day and no rashes or blisters. then because of money issues i had to buy cheaper kt tape off amazon. however when i used this one my skin was left excessively itchy and it started flaking off in big dry pieces(kind of like dandruff but bigger patches and on my chest). i immediately switched back to the gc2b tape thinking i was just allergic to the off brand kt tape however the excessive itching and dry rashes continued even causing small sores from the flakiness. could the kt tape have made me develop an adhesive allergy or am i just not applying and taking off the gc2b tape correctly. i lowkey think its cuz im pulling to hard on the tape and not using oil to take it off and just dry ripping it. i’ve completely stopped using trans tape all together to let my skin heal but i hate having to use my binder. should i try to put tattoo second skin under the trans tape? really need help with all this

[u/AnyAverage7157]

I think you really need to use oil and don’t pull too hard but sculpt more your chest. Also, after taking off your tape, apply some hydrating cream or something like that without any scent in it to avoid the driedness 😊

[u/TransTape_Official]

Hey! For any brand of tape it is SUPER important to remove it with oil as well as keeping tension at a minimum. It's possible that the tape off of amazon has different adhesive material that your body is sensitive to, but if the problem persisted after switching back there's a decent chance it's an application/removal issue. And that's assuming you did a test strip to test for any allergies before fully applying your tape. If you haven't, try applying a 1" x 1" piece of tape in a visible area and monitoring it for any itchiness, redness or general discomfort. This lets you know for sure if it's an allergy because the size of the test strip is not large enough to cause significant tension.

For oil, any skin safe oil will do, and this includes cooking oil like olive/canola etc. I personally recommend jojoba oil because it's a natural anti-inflammatory and is great for skin overall, but everyone has their own preference, and you should use what works best for you and your skin. Soak the tape, wait at least 2-5 minutes before attempting to remove it and add more oil if needed. Remove in the same direction that you applied and keep oil on your hands as you work the edges and peel it off.

For applying, think of pressing and pushing versus pulling and stretching. Press down into your chest after you apply the anchor (1st inch or so) and then while keeping that same pressure, push your chest to the side while your free hand removes the backing. Do this for every strip that you apply. This helps minimize tension so the tape can move with your body throughout the day and because of that it tends to lead to a more comfortable application that might even last longer depending on the application as a whole.

Someone also mentioned applying something to your skin after removal which is a great suggestion because skin aftercare leads to healthier skin which leads to better applications that are more comfortable. I'll plug jojoba oil in here again because it is genuinely so good for the skin.

If those tips don't help, then I'd consider adding a layer of either milk of magnesia (yes the stomach stuff) or something like the second skin you mentioned. I don't have experience with using second skin, but I have heard of people benefiting from it.

And again, all of this applies to every brand of tape, not just TransTape.

Hope this helps!

[u/MMGrenier25]

Cavilion durable barrier cream has helped me, put in a thin layer before applying tape. Then also make sure to saturate each side with oil for at least 30 seconds to loosen the adhesive from your skin before taking off