Silicone Medical Tape and MARSI Prevention: Choosing Gentle Adhesives for Canadian Care

Quick Summary: Medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI) is a common but under-recognized problem in Canadian clinics, LTC homes, and home care — fragile skin is damaged every time an adhesive dressing or tape is removed. This guide explains what MARSI is, why silicone-based tape is the gentler option for vulnerable skin, and how procurement teams should choose medical tape for older adults and patients with thin skin. Read time: 8 minutes.

1. The Hidden Cost of Adhesive Tape on Fragile Skin

Every day in Canadian healthcare, tape is applied and removed tens of thousands of times. For most patients it is a non-event. For older adults, oncology patients, people on corticosteroids, and anyone with thin or damaged skin, the removal step can strip away the stratum corneum — the skin's protective outer layer — leaving a wound that takes days to heal and can become infected.

Medical adhesive-related skin injury is the clinical term for this damage. MARSI covers a range of injuries from erythema and skin stripping to tension blisters and full-thickness tears. In long-term care, where residents frequently have fragile skin, MARSI is a common complication that contributes to pain, delayed healing, extra dressing changes, and added cost. And most of it is preventable with the right product selection.

Estimates from clinical literature put MARSI prevalence in acute and long-term care settings well above what most facilities record, largely because the injury is under-documented: staff treat the red area or skin tear without connecting it to the adhesive that caused it. That under-reporting matters for procurement, because what is not measured cannot be improved. A facility that starts documenting MARSI incidents — even a simple line in the dressing change record noting "skin stripping at tape site" — will quickly see which products and which removal habits are driving the problem.

2. What MARSI Actually Is

MARSI occurs when adhesive is removed and the skin's cohesion is weaker than the adhesive bond. The result is mechanical injury to the epidermis. Several mechanisms produce it:

• Skin stripping — removal of one or more layers of the stratum corneum, the most common mechanism, often appearing as a shiny, red, moist area.
• Tension blister — skin separates from itself when a dressing is applied under tension or skin is stretched during application.
• Skin tear — a traumatic wound caused by friction or shearing, often when tape is removed quickly from fragile skin.
• Allergic or irritant contact dermatitis — a reaction to the adhesive or its components.

The injury is not always recognized as a product-related problem. Staff may attribute skin damage to the patient's condition, age, or the dressing itself. But the adhesive is the variable the facility controls — and the one that can be changed at the next purchase order.

The clinical consequences are not trivial. Once the stratum corneum is stripped, the area becomes erythematous, painful, and vulnerable to colonization by bacteria and fungi. In a long-term care population, that damaged patch of skin can turn into a pressure injury, an infection, or a chronic wound that requires weeks of dressing changes and nursing time. From a quality-of-care standpoint, MARSI is reportable skin damage that a facility can largely prevent — and from a cost standpoint, one skin tear costs more in supplies and labour than a whole case of the gentler tape.

3. Why Silicone Tape Is Gentler

Silicone-based adhesives are fundamentally different from traditional acrylic or rubber-resin adhesives. A silicone adhesive forms a gentle bond with the skin that holds securely but releases with less force, and it does not absorb moisture the same way acrylic adhesives do. This is why silicone tape is often described as "gentle on, gentle off."

That does not mean silicone is always the right choice. Traditional paper tape is inexpensive, breathable, and perfectly adequate for securing gauze on healthy skin for a few hours. The decision rule for procurement is risk-based: when the patient has fragile skin or the dressing will be changed repeatedly, the cost of a skin injury exceeds the cost of the more expensive tape.

4. Canadian Standards and Testing for Medical Tape

Medical tapes in Canada are medical devices, and the relevant regulatory framework is Health Canada's Medical Devices Regulations (SOR/98-282). For adhesive products, the practical expectations are documented specifications, validated adhesion performance, and skin-compatibility claims backed by testing.

The common test standard for pressure-sensitive tape adhesion is ASTM D3330, which measures peel adhesion of adhesive tape. While ASTM D3330 is primarily an industrial materials test, medical tape manufacturers use it or similar methods to document their product's adhesion profile. A lower peel adhesion value generally means a gentler product, which is exactly what the buyer wants for fragile skin.

When evaluating a tape supplier, Canadian buyers should ask for:

• The adhesive type (acrylic, rubber-resin, or silicone) stated in the specification.
• Adhesion test data (peel adhesion, e.g., measured per ASTM D3330).
• Skin-compatibility / dermatological testing where claimed.
• The product's intended use and contraindications (e.g., not for skin with existing damage).

5. Choosing Tape for LTC, Home Care, and Clinics

Different settings have different tape needs, and a single product rarely covers them all.

For LTC and home care, the procurement pattern that works is a two-tier inventory: a cost-effective hypoallergenic tape for routine use on healthy skin, and a silicone-based option for residents with known fragile skin, repeated dressing changes, or a history of skin stripping. CliniEco Medical's hypoallergenic paper medical tape (1 inch × 10 yards) is the routine-tier workhorse for Canadian clinics and care homes — breathable, low-residue, and gentle enough for most day-to-day securement.

6. Application Technique Matters as Much as the Product

Even the gentlest silicone tape will damage skin if applied poorly. Facility training should cover the basics:

• Clean and dry the skin before application.
• Do not stretch the tape as you apply it — tension causes blistering.
• Remove tape slowly, in the direction of hair growth, while supporting the skin with a finger.
• Use adhesive remover wipes where appropriate rather than pulling.
• Rotate application sites for repeated dressing changes.

Training is a procurement-adjacent responsibility. The moment a new tape enters the facility, staff should be told what changed and why — a brief huddle note about removal technique costs nothing and prevents the familiar pattern where a well-intentioned product switch fails because nobody adjusted the removal habit. Product changeovers should be paired with a two-week observation period, and skin condition at dressing sites should be noted during that window. The data from that observation window becomes the evidence base for the next procurement cycle, so the facility buys on outcomes rather than habit.

In LTC, these techniques should be part of skin-care training, alongside the facility's incontinence and pressure injury protocols. Skin damage from tape is often written off as "fragile skin," but a well-trained team with the right product prevents most of it.

Supplies that pair naturally with tape in the dressing-change workflow also deserve a place in the procurement review. Sterile 12-ply sterile gauze sponges are the most common item secured by medical tape, and 70% isopropyl alcohol prep pads are used to clean skin before application where clinical practice requires it. Ordering these together with the tape from one supplier simplifies inventory and keeps the products that touch fragile skin consistent across the facility.

7. FAQ

Q1: What is MARSI in healthcare?

MARSI stands for medical adhesive-related skin injury — damage to the skin caused by the application or removal of medical adhesives such as tape, dressings, and electrodes. It ranges from redness and skin stripping to blisters and skin tears, and is common in older adults with fragile skin.

Q2: Is silicone medical tape better than paper tape?

For fragile skin, yes. Silicone adhesives bond gently and remove with less force, so they cause less skin trauma. For routine securement on healthy skin, conventional paper tape is adequate and less expensive. The choice should be risk-based.

Q3: How do I know if a medical tape is gentle?

Check the specification: the adhesive type (silicone adhesives are gentler), the peel adhesion value (lower means gentler, commonly measured per ASTM D3330), and any skin-compatibility testing. Ask the supplier for the data sheet before buying.

Q4: What causes skin stripping from tape?

Skin stripping happens when the adhesive bond is stronger than the skin's cohesion, so removal pulls off layers of the stratum corneum. It is more likely on thin, aged, or damaged skin, and with aggressive adhesives or improper removal technique.

Q5: Can MARSI be prevented in LTC homes?

Yes, largely. Prevention combines selecting gentler adhesives for at-risk residents, proper application and removal technique, skin assessment at each change, and staff training. MARSI should be tracked as a quality indicator so prevention can be measured.

Q6: What should a Canadian facility stock for tape?

Most facilities should stock at least two tiers: a cost-effective hypoallergenic tape for routine use and a silicone-based gentle tape for fragile skin and repeated dressing changes. This balances budget and skin safety.

Q7: Is medical tape regulated in Canada?

Medical tapes are medical devices in Canada and fall under the Medical Devices Regulations (SOR/98-282). Buyers should confirm the supplier's establishment licensing and review the product specification and test documentation.

Q8: Where can Canadian facilities buy gentle medical tape?

Buy from distributors that publish adhesive type and test data. CliniEco Medical supplies hypoallergenic medical tape to Canadian clinics, LTC homes, and home care agencies, with documented specifications and bulk options — and our sales team can advise on silicone-based options for fragile-skin programs.

8. Final Word for Procurement Teams

MARSI is a preventable cost hiding inside a routine supply purchase. The tape that saves a few cents per roll can cost far more in staff time, dressing changes, and patient pain when it damages fragile skin. Procurement teams that separate tape into a routine tier and a fragile-skin tier, ask for adhesion data, and train staff on removal technique reduce skin injuries without inflating the budget.

CliniEco Medical supplies hypoallergenic medical tape and skin-care products to Canadian clinics, long-term care homes, and home care agencies. If your facility is reviewing tape inventory or wants a bulk quote, contact our sales team — we support healthcare buyers across Canada with documented products and consistent supply.

Last updated: August 17, 2026. This article is for general information and does not constitute medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Always follow your facility's skin-care and wound-care policies.

Related reading: explore our infection control resources for clinics.

decode HAI, SSI, CJD and MDRO acronyms in our infection control pillar article.

References

1. ASTM International. ASTM D3330 — Standard Test Method for Peel Adhesion of Pressure-Sensitive Tape. https://www.astm.org/standards/d3330.htm
2. Government of Canada. Medical Devices Regulations (SOR/98-282). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-98-282/
3. Health Canada. Medical devices — how devices are approved and authorized in Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medical-devices.html
4. Wounds Canada. https://www.woundscanada.ca/
5. Canadian Continence Foundation. https://www.canadiancontinence.ca/
6. Public Health Agency of Canada. Infection prevention and control. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/infection-prevention-control.html
7. World Health Organization. Infection prevention and control — hand hygiene. https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/infection-prevention-control/hand-hygiene
8. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control (Springer, open access). https://link.springer.com/journal/13756
9. Journal of Hospital Infection (Elsevier). https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-hospital-infection
10. American Journal of Infection Control (Elsevier). https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/american-journal-of-infection-control
11. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (Cambridge). https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology
12. Emerging Infectious Diseases (CDC). https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/
13. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). https://www.ccohs.ca/
14. CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). https://www.cmaj.ca/
15. Modern Healthcare. https://www.modernhealthcare.com/
16. Healthcare Purchasing News (HPN). https://www.hpnonline.com/

Related Reading

Explore more guides in this category:

• Medical Tape Removal: Reducing Skin Trauma in Elderly Patients
• Medical Tape Types: Paper, Cloth & Silicone — Which to Use
• Medical Tape Types: Paper Tape vs Cloth Tape for Canadian Clinical Settings