PRIMAFIX

Securing a wound dressing reliably while keeping the fixation material comfortable against the skin is a daily challenge in wound care. A fabric fixation tape that conforms to the skin surface, breathes, and adheres gently without causing discomfort at removal meets this need across a range of dressing types and skin sites. Primafix is a soft fabric fixation tape from Smith & Nephew for dressing retention. Three roll sizes: 5cm x 10m, 10cm x 10m, and 15cm x 10m. Cut to required length. No prescription required.

Primafix is a regulated medical device from Smith & Nephew. It is a soft fabric fixation tape designed for securing and retaining wound dressings in position. The tape consists of a soft fabric backing coated with a gentle adhesive. The fabric backing gives the tape its conformability, breathability, and comfort against the skin. The gentle adhesive provides sufficient hold to retain the dressing in position through normal daily activity while being kinder at removal than stronger adhesive tapes.

The primary clinical function of Primafix is dressing fixation. It is used to hold wound dressings, absorbent pads, and other wound contact materials in position on the skin. Dressings that have no integral adhesive of their own, such as Melolin, alginate pads, and hydrofibre dressings, require a secondary fixation method to keep them in place. Primafix serves this function as a broad, soft, and comfortable tape that can be applied around and across the dressing to secure it without causing discomfort.

The fabric backing is breathable. The structure of the fabric allows moisture vapour from the skin surface beneath the tape to pass through and evaporate. This breathability reduces the accumulation of moisture under the tape during extended wear, which helps maintain the skin condition beneath the tape and supports the adhesive bond over time. Breathable fabric tapes are generally better tolerated on skin that needs to be taped repeatedly across multiple dressing changes than fully occlusive backing materials.

Primafix is available in three roll widths on 10m rolls: 5cm, 10cm, and 15cm. The width is selected based on the size of the dressing being secured and the anatomy of the site. The 15cm width is suited to securing large dressings and abdominal wound pads, where a broad tape coverage reduces the number of strips needed.

Primafix is not waterproof. Replace after contact with water during bathing or showering. Apply to dry intact skin only. Apply without tension. Remove slowly along the skin surface, not upward at a sharp angle, particularly on fragile or elderly skin. Do not apply repeatedly to the same skin site without allowing skin recovery time between applications.

Soft Fabric Backing

The fabric backing of Primafix is a soft, conformable material that adapts to the contours of the skin and the dressing beneath it. Unlike stiffer backing materials, the fabric bends and conforms with body movement rather than creating stiff edges that lift and pull at the skin. The softness of the fabric makes Primafix comfortable to wear against the skin during extended dressing wear periods and reduces the skin irritation that can result from repeated tape application.

Gentle Adhesive for Dressing Retention

The adhesive on Primafix is formulated to provide a reliable hold on the skin surface for dressing retention while being gentler at removal than higher tack adhesives. For patients who require dressings to be changed regularly, a gentler adhesive reduces the cumulative skin trauma of repeated tape removal. The adhesive bonds effectively to dry intact skin and maintains the dressing in position through normal daily activity. On fragile or elderly skin, additional care at removal is still required, even with a gentle adhesive.

Breathability

The fabric structure allows air and moisture vapour to pass through the tape. This breathability serves two purposes. First, it allows the skin beneath the tape to breathe normally rather than being sealed under an occlusive covering. Second, it allows moisture vapour produced by normal skin transpiration to escape rather than accumulating under the tape. Moisture accumulation under tape weakens the adhesive bond and can macerate the skin surface, leading to skin breakdown in the taped area over time. The breathable fabric construction of Primafix reduces both of these risks.

Roll Format and Width Selection

Primafix is supplied in continuous 10m rolls in three widths. The required length is cut from the roll before application. For small dressings, a short strip from the narrow 5cm roll provides adequate fixation at the dressing borders. For medium dressings, the 10cm roll provides broader coverage strips. For large dressings and abdominal pads, the 15cm roll allows the full pad to be taped with fewer strips. The roll format and width options give Primafix the flexibility to suit dressing sizes and body sites across a wide range of wound management situations.

Preparation

• Ensure the skin surface is clean and completely dry before applying Primafix.
• Apply the wound dressing or pad to the wound before applying the tape.

Application

• Measure and cut the required length from the roll.
• Apply Primafix without tension. Do not stretch the tape during application.
• Press firmly along the full length to ensure complete contact with the skin and dressing.
• For securing a dressing pad, apply strips across the borders of the pad on all sides.
• For the 15cm width, apply across the full pad surface to secure large dressings.

Removal

• Peel the tape slowly back along the skin surface, not upward at a sharp angle.
• Support the skin ahead of the peeling edge with the other hand.
• On fragile or elderly skin, dampen the tape briefly with water before removal to soften the adhesive.
• Remove gently and steadily.

Apply Primafix relaxed and without stretch. Tape applied under tension recoils against the skin and can cause stripping on thin or fragile skin. Always apply relaxed.

Primafix 5cm x 10m

A narrow roll for securing small and medium dressings, fixing dressing edges, and applications where a 5cm wide strip provides adequate fixation. The 10m roll length provides a substantial supply for multiple dressing changes. Suited to home wound care and clinical settings where small to medium dressing fixation is the routine requirement.

Primafix 10cm x 10m

A medium-width roll suited to securing medium and larger dressings, where a wider tape strip provides more reliable coverage of the dressing border. The 10cm width reduces the number of strips needed to secure a medium pad and is appropriate for body sites where a broader tape application is practical. The 10m length provides a generous supply for extended use.

Primafix 15cm x 10m

A broad roll suited to securing large dressings, abdominal wound pads, and body sites where wide tape coverage is clinically appropriate. The 15cm width can span the full border of large pads with a single strip, reducing the number of separate tape applications needed. Particularly useful in post-operative wound management and for securing large primary dressings such as absorbent pads over abdominal or thoracic wound sites. The 10m length provides a clinical stock level for ongoing use.

All three roll sizes use the same fabric backing and gentle adhesive construction. Width and length selection is based on the dressing size and the volume of tape needed.

When Not to Use Primafix

• Wet or greasy skin where the adhesive will not bond effectively.
• Broken, weeping, or infected skin directly under the tape.
• Known sensitivity to the adhesive components.

Precautions

• Apply to dry intact skin only.
• Apply without tension.
• Remove slowly along the skin surface.
• Support the skin ahead of the peeling edge at removal on fragile skin.
• Allow skin recovery time between tape applications on the same site.
• Not waterproof. Replace after water contact.

Adverse Effects

• Skin irritation or redness under the tape with prolonged or repeated application to the same area.
• Skin stripping if removed forcefully or at a sharp angle from fragile skin.
• Contact reaction to the adhesive in sensitive individuals.

Dressings and Situations Where Primafix Is Appropriate

• Secondary fixation for wound contact dressings without integral adhesive, including Melolin, alginate dressings, hydrofibre dressings, foam pads, and paraffin gauze
• Retention of large abdominal or chest dressing pads, where broad tape width reduces the number of fixation strips needed
• Any wound site where a soft conformable fabric tape is the appropriate secondary fixation material for the skin type and wound location
• Patients with sensitive skin or repeated dressing changes, where a gentler adhesive tape reduces cumulative skin trauma
• Adults and children

Primafix vs Micropore

Primafix (Smith & Nephew) and Micropore (3M) are both fixation tapes used for dressing retention, but from different materials. Micropore uses a paper backing with a gentle acrylic adhesive. Primafix uses a soft fabric backing. The fabric of Primafix is more conformable and feels softer against the skin than paper. Primafix is available in widths up to 15cm, which Micropore does not offer. Both are breathable and gentle. Choose Primafix for broad dressing fixation and for sites where a soft conformable tape is preferred. Choose Micropore, where a paper tape that tears easily by hand without scissors is more practical.

Primafix does not require a prescription. All three roll sizes are available from Pharmacy Planet without a clinical consultation.

Our pharmacists can advise on roll width selection for specific wound and dressing dimensions and on when Primafix or another fixation tape is the most appropriate choice.

For complex wound management or patients with fragile skin requiring specialist fixation advice, seek clinical guidance alongside product purchase.

• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat and sunlight.
• Do not store above 25 degrees C.
• Keep in original packaging to protect the adhesive when not in use.
• Do not use if the roll is damaged or the adhesive is contaminated.
• Keep out of reach of children.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy. All three Primafix roll sizes are genuine Smith & Nephew products stocked through regulated UK supply chains.

Our pharmacists can advise on Primafix and on other dressing fixation and retention tape options for different wound types and patient skin conditions.

References

1. Smith & Nephew. Primafix — Product Information. Smith & Nephew. https://www.smith-nephew.com. Accessed June 2026.
2. NHS. How to treat minor cuts and grazes at home. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cuts-and-grazes. Accessed June 2026.
3. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Wound care products: selection and prescribing. https://www.nice.org.uk. Accessed June 2026.