Haelan Tape

Haelan tape is a surgical dressing used for skin conditions that are otherwise difficult to treat, particularly those with dry scaly lesions.

Can I get Haelan Tape Online?

The Online Clinic can prescribe Haelan Tape if it is appropriate to do so. Please complete an online consultation so a doctor can assess you for this treatment.

What is Haelan Tape?

Haelan Tape is a thin, translucent, plastic film containing the moderately-potent corticosteroid fludroxycortide, and coated with an adhesive. Corticosteroids are mainly used to control inflammation and topical corticosteroids are used to reduce the inflammation in inflammatory skin conditions. They are absorbed into skin cells, preventing the skin cells from producing the various naturally-occurring chemicals that cause inflammation. Such inflammatory substances (e.g., prostaglandins) cause the widening of blood vessels and attract other inflammatory substances to the affected skin site. This leads to the affected skin area becoming red, itchy, swollen, and painful. Fludroxycortide prevents this from happening.

How to use Haelan Tape

Haelan Tape is a medicine and must be used only on the skin (avoid your eyes and mouth). Your doctor will indicate exactly where to place the tape. Generally, it is used for 12 hours a day but your doctor will advise you on this and on how many days to use it. Children and people using it for facial skin conditions must not use Haelan Tape for more than five days. Using Haelan Tape is easy; it is flexible so it can be used on moving body parts such as the hands and joints. It is also convenient, being waterproof to enable washing, bathing, showering, and swimming, and having a matt finish to allow you to cover it with make-up.

Before application, clean and dry the affected skin area. Cut the Haelan Tape with clean scissors (it cannot be torn), ensuring it covers all the affected area with an all-round overlap of 0.5 cm onto unaffected skin. It is best to ‘round’ the tape edges to prevent it catching on your clothes. To apply the tape, remove the paper backing and stick the adhesive side of the translucent tape to your skin. Gently, rub the tape from the middle to outer patch edges to ensure it sticks well. Ensure to apply to flexed skin and bent joints so it does not become unstuck during daily activities. If you are covering a large skin area, remove the paper backing a little at a time while applying the tape to your skin. Once applied, Haelan Tape must not be covered with another dressing or tight clothing.

Who can use Haelan Tape?

Haelan Tape must not be used if you are allergic to fludroxycortide, surgical tape or the adhesive, or you have experienced swelling, rash, itching, or breathing difficulties when previously using it. The tape cannot be used for all skin conditions; these include chicken pox or reactions to the smallpox vaccination, tuberculosis, facial rosacea, acne, dermatitis near the mouth, genital/anal itching, infant eczema or napkin rash, or skin infections. Report any infections or possible infections to your doctor before using Haelan Tape.

Also prior to using Haelan Tape, discuss with your doctor if you are pregnant (or possibly pregnant or trying for a baby) or breast-feeding. Additionally, the doctor will want to know about all your medicines, regardless of whether they are from the doctor or bought yourself.

Haelan Tape side effects

Occasionally, some patients get side effects at the site of application of Haelan Tape. These may involve dry, itchy or burning skin, dermatitis, hair growth or hair follicle inflammation, pimples, spots or lines, or loose or thin skin. Wound healing may take longer and, left untreated, skin infections may worsen. Rarely, there may be changes in your blood/urine glucose levels or in hormones, leading to weight gain, menstrual problems, and excess hair growth. Children have also rarely been reported to experience high fluid pressure in the head with swelling and headaches.