Allergic to dressings

[francesk]

Hello, I'm T2 but on insulin,had diabetes for about 26 years. Diabetes wasn't well controlled to begin with , consequently I have CKD stage 5, am on dialysis three times a week, and on kidney transplant register.
I dialysis through a neck line at present, whilst waiting for an upper arm graft, have been on dialysis since last October. My problem now is the kidney disease has left my skin very dry and paper thin, and I have to have dressings covering the port in my chest all the time. I think I'm allergic to the actual adhesives that hold the dressings on, as my skin has become increasingly itchy. I now use octenilin wound irrigation solution to clean around the wound, and software dressings on the actual wound. I cannot tolerate either the clear plastic dressings or mepore dressings. The hospital doesn't appear to have anything else, and my Dr's can't help either. They are going to dispense a cream to help, but you can't stick dressings over a cream!
Can anyone help? The itching is driving me mad!!
I've just had to have one neckline removed, due to infection, and now have a new one on the other side, and can feel all the itching starting to build up on this side too. The most relief I get is from a cold flannel, or ice packs, but that is short term. Any help gratefully received! TIA.

 

[lessci]

Have you tried Micropore (the papertape) rather than the other dressings? I have a mild reaction to the adhesive in some dressings. When I donate blood I'm ok with the tape they use to attach the donation bag, but not the mepore "plaster" so they use a bandage instead, I get an itchy rash. When I need a normal plaster I stick to elastoplast as they seem to be the only ones that don't irritate my skin.

 

[Hopeful34]

Cavilon or Sorbaderm spray are helpful for some people. Whilst the hospital may not be allowed to order specific dressings for sensitive skin (have had experience of this, and yes we argued all you could), they will have a specialist nurse (sorry I can't remember their title, something like 'wound care' maybe), who can request the dr to order appropriate ones which you can use at home/take to your appointments.