Skin-contact tapes for health wearables
Wearable health monitoring devices such as ECG patches, continuous glucose monitors and heart rate monitors need to stay on the skin for days at a time. Breathable acrylic and silicone skin-contact tapes hold devices securely while remaining gentle on the user's skin.
Designing the skin adhesive layer is a balancing act between adhesion, breathability, water resistance and how it feels when removed.
Specific requirements for skin adhesion
Human skin constantly stretches, sweats and sheds dead cells. The tape must stay firmly attached for 3 to 14 days depending on the device, withstand bathing and movement, yet not cause pain or damage to the epidermis when removed. The material must also pass skin irritation and sensitization tests according to ISO 10993.
Acrylic and silicone adhesives
| Criteria | Acrylic adhesive | Silicone adhesive |
|---|---|---|
| Initial tack | High | Moderate |
| Typical wear time | 7–14 days | 1–7 days |
| Feel on removal | Firm, may cause skin redness | Gentle, less painful |
| Repositionability | Limited | Good |
| Suitability for sensitive skin | Moderate | Excellent |
The backing material determines breathability
The adhesive backing is usually polyester nonwoven, PU film or PE foam. PU film has a high moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR), allowing sweat to escape and reducing edge lifting and irritation. Nonwoven is soft and conforms to body contours. PE foam serves as a cushioning layer under heavier devices.
Multilayer design for wearables
Many devices use a hybrid construction: silicone adhesive in the skin-contact area for comfort, acrylic adhesive around the outer border to prevent edge lifting, and a specialty double-sided tape to bond the device body to the backing.
Suggested development process
- Define the target wear time and the application site on the body.
- Select two to three adhesive and backing configurations for volunteer testing.
- Evaluate adhesion rate after each day, the degree of skin redness and the feel on removal.
- Check compatibility with the sterilization method, if applicable.
- Optimize the die-cut shape with rounded corners to reduce edge lifting.
Packaging should also be considered: skin-contact tapes often have a split liner or pull tabs so users can apply them easily without touching the adhesive side. This design helps preserve adhesion and hygiene when the device is used at home.
AMS supplies skin-contact medical tapes from 3M and specialty manufacturers, along with die-cutting to drawing. Contact AMS Vietnam to receive samples for your wearable device.
