Dry, Flaky skin from Taping (help)

[Purist]

So, I've been taping for about a week now (since Tuesday, Nov 22nd). I've just been using a simplified version of greg b's t-tape strips. I simply tape 4 t-tape strips at the POE, bring the ends together, (I don't use an insert, and I'm a fairly tight CI- 1) and clip them to a suspender strap down the leg for tension. This is the first time I've been taping.

I've been using Nexcare Absolute Waterproof foam tape by 3M which seems to have a very mild adhesive.

http://www.shop3m.com/70071215027.html

When not tugging, I left the tape strips in place to keep my skin pulled forward and to cover the glans. So, I've had tape on my skin for more or less for about 4- 5 days straight.

I took a break over the weekend, and Monday night I noticed my shaft skin and inner skin remnant were VERY flaky and dry. It's like my dick has a bad case of dandruff. In some spots the skin flaked off so much that there's redness. It seems a little better today (Tuesday) but I"m not sure if this is normal or how to proceed.

I'm kind of bummed this happened and I really want to get back to tugging, so thanks in advance for the advice.

Edit: I just showered (just water, no soap) and the skin is less flaky now and I can see more of what's going on. There's rawness and red skin where the tape was applied. Especially on the dorsal side, where there are red lines of raw skin which seem to be located wherever the edge of the tape had been applied. (I'm hoping it's just rawness and not stretch marks, which doesn't seem likely since they are in areas under which ,or at the very edge where, the tape had been applied).

[z726]

It's rawness, with dead skin flaking off at the surface. While using only 4 strips may appear simpler than greg's method, you're distributing the tension over fewer points - and effectively pulling harder on each one. Give your skin a few days' rest, and try it again with either more strips or wider tape for each one. To ensure that you're pulling each strip evenly, you may also want to wrap another tape strip around the circumference of the shaft, as shown here: http://www.restoringforeskin.org/blo...-t-tape-method

[greg_b]

Do you mean you have 4 t-tape strips attached to your skin? I use 3 t-tape strips. To do this I cut 6 pieces of tape, then apply them in pairs, so that 2 pieces of tape form one t-tape strip.

As far as flaking, 4 things come to mind:

1) you could be dekeratinizing. dekeratinization leaves redness and a sensitive area for a few days. Like a sunburn that peels. If it was only your inner skin and glans, that is what I would think is most likely the cause.

2) the tension that I use resutls in a slight redness, more pinkness actually, and slight swelling, due to the stress. Taking a few days off allows it to go away. The redness and swelling are mostly under and immediately around the tape.

3) you could be reacting to the tape/glue. some people develop sensitivity and even allergic reactions to the chemicals in a particular tape. I would expect that this would get redder over time, spread away from the tape, and you would feel more itchiness or discomfort as it gets worse. Flakiniess can also be caused as your skin tries to deal with whatever is causing it. Changing tapes can solve this. Taking a break can help you sort this out.

4) This time of year, my skin becomes very dry. This can result in flacking skin, as well as cracking skin where it is thickest, ends of my fingers, heels, etc. If your routine has changed for cleaning your penis, you are using soap, you could be experiencing this. itchiness rather than discomfort and pain is the typical symptom.

Any one of these, or several at once can be happening. You need to figure out which it is. Pay attention to the symptoms. Stop for a rest a few days, see what happens. Start again and see what happens. try a different tape. Read more about the ones that seem most likely to you. Perhaps see a dermatologist, even.

Hope this helps, sounds like one of the many small issue we must deal with from time to time as restorers. I know I have had my share, for example, one time when I was using baby powder to keep things dry, I switched to cornstarch baby powder, instead of talc. Started getting redness and discomfort that took me a while to figure out. Went back to talc baby powder and solved it.

Regards

[Purist]

Thanks for the great replies.

That's correct-- I cut 8 strips of tape, which I apply in pairs, forming a total of 4 t-tape strips. The tape is 1 inch wide , which obviously equates to 4 inches of tugging surface area. My flaccid circumference is about 4 1/2 inches, which obviously doesn't leave much room between the gaps.

But my gut instinct is telling me Z's observation is true, i.e., uneven tugging is the source of my issues (Thank you!). Most of the flaking seemed to be on the outer skin, and mostly concentrated in areas that were excessively tensioned due to the unevenness.

For even pulling, I'll be sure to anchor the strips by wrapping strips around the entire circumference as suggested in that quick and easy guide you posted, (that guide looks like an excellent way for beginners to get a feel for taping, by the way) and hopefully that'll do the trick.