The visuals of the skin don’t always tell the truth. Multiple people can suffer from the same dry skin but have different issues. The skin tape stripping process helps to understand the skin concern and get to the bottom of it. Let’s see how it works and where you can get the best!

An overview of Skin Tape Stripping?

Skin tape stripping is a process for removing a very thin layer from the surface of the skin with the help of tape. To do tape stripping, a piece of adhesive tape is applied to the skin for just a moment before being ripped away to remove very fine scales from the outermost protective layer of the skin. This layer consists mainly of dead cells called corneocytes.

Tape stripping is characterised by the analysis of dryness and flaking characteristics. The assessment of changes in skin barrier function over time, and the sampling of components of the skin surface material. As this only requires the removal of the outer layer of the epidermis, the procedure is regarded as very non-invasive.

Signs you need Skin Tape Stripping:

You usually need skin tape stripping only in testing/clinical research environments, and not something you do at home. Situations for skin tape stripping include:

• You have issues with dryness or flakiness, and you would like a clearer understanding of the process at your skin’s surface.
• Your skin’s barrier appears disturbed: any skin type that feels tight, rough, easily irritated, and even has negative responses to products previously not associated with irritation.
• You are conducting a before-and-after analysis of a skin treatment or skin routine.
• You are part of a dermatology or cosmetic study, and a researcher may need a standard sample from your outer layer for imaging.
• A specific recommendation is provided to measure human shedding or surface quality, and to control disruption/recovery.

Choose Medelink for your next skin tape stripping!

In tape stripping dermatology, consistency plays an essential role in determining the success of the procedure. Specialised materials, such as corneocyte collection material, are preferable to other alternatives. Companies like Medelink focus on providing research instruments, such as Corneofix. This enables lifting corneocytes, making desquamation and hydration-related changes easier to evaluate.

It also aligns with common workflows, rather than forcing you to put together your own arrangement from seemingly unrelated items. Working with a system such as Medelink makes the workflow easier during the day as well. Labels, formats, and supporting accessories designed for repeat sampling, you can compare subjects or track changes across visits.

In summary!

Skin tape stripping is one of those methods that looks simple but yields surprisingly meaningful insights. Whether using it to measure dryness and flakes in the skin or as a form of analysis in conducting experiments with various treatments for the skin. The idea remains the same: to make it easier to gain positive insights into the quality of the entire experiment.

If you’re planning a tape stripping study and want the right setup, get in touch with us today!