Does this picture look familiar to you?
Ever since the launch of the g6, more and more Dexcom users are noticing irritation under their device that they’ve never had to deal with before.
This has become so common that there is an entire 13,000 person Facebook group to address it!
You may have noticed that the picture above shows irritation where the dexcom was placed, but not where the ExpressionMed Tape was worn. If you find a tape you love that does not irritate your skin, see if that company offers an UnderPatch. If the material is thin enough, it should not affect your sensor longevity or readings.
We recommend you find a non-printed tape to use as an underpatch since the ink adds thickness to the material.
If you are still experiencing sensitivity with an underpatch, there are 3 potential culprits. Luckily we can offer solutions to all three.
There are trapped irritants/allergens between the tape and your skin.
Wash the area with unscented soap and water before application
The skin is damaged from overuse of rubbing alcohol and strong adhesives.
Give this area of your skin a break. Patch test another area of your skin by cutting a square out of an adhesive and putting it on another part of your body. Make sure to patch test the Tape before using it under your Dexcom. If your skin reacts and you have to remove your Dexcom, the test becomes a lot more expensive.
You are sensitive to the adhesive as well.
This one breaks my heart, because we have not changed our material in the past 5 years and still some of our favorite customers are developing sensitivities to the material.
At first I thought there was no explanation until I began studying how allergic contact dermatitis affects the skin barrier. I learned that just one case of allergic contact dermatitis, or even an overuse of rubbing alcohol can damage the skin barrier and leave your skin more prone to sensitivity and reactions, even to materials you’ve never reacted to before.
The solution to this skin barrier damage was actually determined way back in 2001, people just don’t talk about it.
What I’m recommending is not medical advice, but instead a conversation to have with your doctor, if this is something you are newly struggling with.
This study found that combining a topical corticosteroid with corneotherapy agents prevents the delay in the healing process of skin barrier disruption due to allergic contact dermatitis.
In non-scientific words, this means that if rubbing alcohol or an allergen damaged your skin barrier and is making your skin more sensitive to materials you weren’t sensitive to prior, you can speed up the rebuilding of your skin barrier. You can do this by using topical corticosteroid lotions ranging from over the counter hydrocortisone (anti-itch cream) to prescription level Diprolene to stop the allergic response.
If you combine this with corneotherapy: taking protective measures while your skin is healing, you can speed up the healing process. These protective measures could include using a barrier spray before applying adhesives or wearing tight clothing, using a barrier cream daily to promote healing or using a hydrocolloid patch for 3 days to promote full healing of the affected space.
If you are treating an allergic reaction, try not to use the above barriers on their own without the corticosteroids, you need to treat the allergic reaction AND create an environment for healing.
Again, I’m not a doctor and any choice you make should be discussed with your primary care provider or endo, but I hope my internet deep dive helps you understand your own skin and avoid those pesky rashes!
Until next time,
Meghan Sharkus
Founder and CEO
ExpressionMed
You may have noticed our new line of products called UnderPatches. Unlike the rest of our products, these tapes offer no fun designs, and are relatively new to the diabetes world which may have you thinking:
The answer to this question is simple. If you have experienced a Dexcom or Libre rash this product is for you. If you have not, be on your merry way knowing that you have healthy, happy skin.
If you’ve experienced a Dexcom rash, you next need to determine if the rash was limited to the area of the Dexcom tape, or if it was underneath your ExpressionMed Tape as well. If it was under both, see our blog on preventing and healing dexcom rash.
If the reaction is only underneath the Dexcom itself, keep reading.
First clean off your skin with non-scented soap and water, if your skin has had a rash before it likely has some lasting damage to the skin barrier, using harsh chemicals like rubbing alcohol can create further damage.
Next, wait for the skin to dry and apply the UnderPatch by following the instructions on the product page.
Lastly apply your Dexcom as you normally would! It’s that simple!
If you’re feeling especially creative and want your Dex or Libre to stay on a little longer, add your favorite ExpressionMed design over the top and voila! The perfect set up for a comfortable, stylish, rash-free CGM experience.
Do you constantly worry about your CGM falling off? With summer coming up, we device wearers need all the help we can get in keeping these tools attached as long as possible and unfortunately, most adhesives won’t stick to your skin for as long as they’re meant to.
Do you have sensitive skin? Are you and athlete? Do you workout? Are you a heavy sweater? Malena Alexandra is here to share with you her dia-journey with our adhesives and how they changed her life for the better. Living a healthy lifestyle is so important to Malena and our peel-resistant, sweat proof tapes have helped her to feel confident and comfortable when exercising!
Photo Credit: defeat diabetes.org.
Facts and Preparation advice:
We have read several articles about COVID-19 and Diabetes and by far the most useful resource we found was this blog from jdrf.org. It details how people with diabetes are not more likely to contract coronavirus but do have to take more precautions when it comes to being prepared to respond to societal activity and the potential situation of being sick.
As the general population starts to clear grocery store shelves make sure you and your family have what you need to keep your blood sugar numbers under control. If you are sick and taking pain killers, read jdrf's notes on how over the counter pain medication can affect blood sugar:
It's better to be over-prepared than to be under prepared.
Most insulin and CGM suppliers have reported no impact on their manufacturing and distribution capabilities, but if you are having financial difficulty covering your required supplies go to jdrf.org/costs.
Make sure that if you or a loved one with diabetes seeks emergency care:
Some of our medical heroes are having to step into emergency care with short notice and may not be experienced with diabetes care.
Stay home, keep calm, and find ways to keep a healthy body and mind.
Anxiety can take a further toll on your immune system.
Check out these free resources to help you stay calm and positive in these trying times. (these are not sponsored links)
Watch the Met Opera or Broadway Musicals for free at home.
Get free access to workouts until May 31st.
Take Ivy League level classes.
Learn how to cook from chefs in quarantine.
Clean your house - eliminating dust and regulating humidity can help keep your lungs healthy. This is useful in the case that you get sick as COVID-19 targets the lungs first.
Share your favorite facts, quarantine qualms, and wellness tips in this survey!
Thank you all for staying inside and staying safe.
You and your families are in our hearts during these uncertain times.
The Breakdown:
Photo contest-
For the first 3 days of the week send us your Fall Leaves photos. On Wednesday at 10pm we will pick the finalists. The finalists will have 4 days to get the most facebook likes on their photos to win 5 tapes of their choice!
Submissions here:
Type One-Der-Ful competition Closed
Use this link to submit your Fall Leaves photos (accepting photos until the 13th at 10pm)
Use this link to submit your Diabetic Warrior photos (accepting photos until the 18th at 10pm)
Use this link to submit your Unicorn photos (accepting photos until the 25th at 10pm)
Where to buy:
Use this link to buy the Diabetic Warrior for the upcoming contest
Use this link to buy the Unicorn tape for the upcoming contest
If for any reason you are unsuccessful in submitting using this link, please email your photo to Community@expressionmed.com
Giveaways-
Comment on the giveaway posts for a chance to win
Question of the day-
Check your email, answer a question, and you're in the running to win 🏆
Feature Friday-
Click here and tell us about you! 1 entry means you are in the running every. single. week. How cool is that?
Hi there! Welcome to my very first blog post.
Today, November 14th, is a special day: National Diabetes Day.
I was first introduced into the diabetes community just a few months ago when I began working for ExpressionMed as a marketing and communications lead.
Hi! I’m Meghan Sharkus and being the CEO of ExpressionMed continues to be the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life. Since starting this company in the summer of 2015 I have spent countless days in adhesive research centers, legal offices, and manufacturing facilities learning as much as I can about making the perfect tape for one of the most inspiring groups of people I know: the diabetes community.
