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Freestyle Libre sensors and Eczema

Bob Falfa

Bob Falfa

Active Member
Messages
25
I started using the Freestyle on Thursday and by evening my arm had exploded will eczema , next day the other arm and then all over and the sensors fell off
I have had eczema for years
When I did a scan the reading was low that's when I noticed and as it was just hanging I put it back on, the next reading was witin the parameters but within 2 hours it was off again,
Any suggestions?
 
Bob Falfa said:
I started using the Freestyle on Thursday and by evening my arm had exploded will eczema , next day the other arm and then all over and the sensors fell off
I have had eczema for years
When I did a scan the reading was low that's when I noticed and as it was just hanging I put it back on, the next reading was witin the parameters but within 2 hours it was off again,
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Hi,

The Freestyle adhesive is known to cause allergy problems but for most the allergies normally start about 6+ months in to using it. So I'm guessing that with your eczema you are not allowed the 'free time' to try it out.

Some people have success with barriers like Skin-Tac or Cavlon which you smear on and then put the Libre on top of it. It may not stick as well as it's supposed to in which case you can put something else (Grifgrips) over the top of it. This can sometimes interfere with the bluetooth connection to the sensor so you might need to cut a hole in the centre.

https://www.grifgrips.com/

https://www.funkypumpers.com/product/skin-tac-adhesive-barrier-wipes/

Once you start searching you'll probably find other products.

With your eczema, do you have a problem with other medical adhesives like sticking plasters ? Barriers may not work that well for you if you do have problems.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.
 
Sticking plasters / surgical tape don't cause me a problem .
Thinking back I could feel it starting after about 20 minutes(stress, pollen, animal dander and worst of them all smokers even if they are not smoking starts it instantly)
I wonder if wrapping a wide bit of surgical tape round the arm then firing the sensor into the arm ,then maybe wrapping a bit of tape over the sensor would work.
Although I'm sure a bit of tape on for a fortnight is less than wise! That said the Grifgrip XL Sports grip looks a good bet
 
My wife has just done a 14 day test using a Tegaderm plaster used for holding in IV drips and firing the sensor through that. She still had a mild reaction when taking off the sensor but nowhere near as bad as before. She used Micropore tape to go over any edges that lifted and the sensor worked perfectly throughout. On removal, the adhesive disc that comes on the Libre sensor came off with the Tegaderm so some of the allergen may still have got through to her skin by osmosis or porosity. She did have a red disc shape on her arm but only lost a little superficial skin, not a grotty mess as before. Perhaps using a spray barrier on her skin first will help further. Really needs Abbott to come up with a hypoallergenic interleaf.
 
I did buy of the arm band type from Portugal , however However the last sensor lasted a day(that was prior to the armband arriving) so I haven't used the Libre since , mainly due to my skin being in an uproar and a complete mess.
Micropore seems to have the least aggressive adhesive,but that's not to say it'll be good with everyone.
There is a tape that used by boxers and martial arts for binding hands ,it's cloth breathable but it's only 25mm wide.
Two thoughts use that tape over the top of the sensor OR bit of micropore next to the skin and that tape over the top
 
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