Serious damage from DD skin protection tape

Okay, I have bought VOLKS DD skin protection tape and applied to my doll, left there for about two weeks. Yesterday I removed the tape and found out VERY SERIOUS erosion/corrotion/eat away problem on DD skins!

 

Basically, all areas which has been touched by the tape, actually eroded like a layer cut by carrot razors. I can actually FEEL the edge of the area when I slide my finger touching the skin. There is obviously VERY SERIOUS problem in the chemical composition of the tape. For areas where the tape is not totally touched - there will be areas like air bubbles or air stripes when tape is bended - it's actually NOT eroded, so that it appears like blood or nerve veins or swells! Again, all these erosion/non erosion areas are causing actual uneven-ness on the DD body which can be felt by hand touch. Please see my photos on my facebook facebook[dot]com/dan[dot]yang[dot]94801 or username rabbitodan[at]gmail[dot]com

 

I have emailed Volks early yesterday but did not receive any replies yet. I am seriously unhappy about what they're doing this time. If anyone has similar problems, please do reply here. I strongly suggest all DD friends, please do NOT use their tapes until further clarifications from them.

Edited October 7, 2014 by Guest

Well that's scary. I can't see your photos, but I checked Sakuya who had it on her feet & lower legs to protect her from the boots she's wearing. I took off the tape from legs, and it generally seems fine. I did notice that there's a slight bump along the edge where the tape was, maybe because I wrapped it around tight which squeezed the vinyl a bit (kind of like if you squeeze tape too tight around your finger). I assume I can fix that with a hair dryer, if it doesn't even out over time. There's also one slightly brown spot which I guess is a stain, and is probably because I left a gap between the tape. Otherwise the texture of the vinyl is smooth and clean.

 

Her feet are still covered with tape, and I'm not taking it off at the moment. I figure if they're already ruined, I just need to replace the feet anyway, I may as well leave it on

 

What kind of environment are you in? Hot, humid, cold? Also, what skin colour is the DD you used it on?

 

Edit: shining the area that was covered by tape in the light, I think I see what you mean by veins/swells. I think the vinyl just wanted to expand a little underneath the tape. Maybe vinyl normally does that but the tape restricted it. I don't think it's a serious problem for me (I can't really notice it) and it will even out over time. I think it's just like that because vinyl is soft and it's been squeezed a bit, I don't think there's a chemical reaction.

I will try to check it again after work today, and take more photos to reflect the situation and put on flickr.

 

I have applied the tape to multiple surfaces, first of all, none of them have been squeezed, since I used it as only small parts, not running in circles and circles. If the tape is applied very smoothly, there won't be any noticeable texture except the edge. It only happens when the tape is bended which create small gaps/bubbles, and the gap/bubble actually are not touching the tape, thus allow me to notice that those surface not touching the tape looks swelling - but indeed they are normal, but the surface touching the tape got eroded a bit.

 

I live in Sydney so I believe my environment could be counted as good to excellent - constant dry, ~20 C temperature, I don't smoke, no pets and dolls are not exposed to heat or sunlight. I used normal skin tape on normal skin DD. And how long did you leave the tape for? The longest I left it for 2-3 weeks and I think the time really makes the difference. Again only time can tell if it will even out..

And how long did you leave the tape for? The longest I left it for 2-3 weeks and I think the time really makes the difference.

I had it on for two weeks, I think. The weather during that time's getting cooler, but generally around 16-19°, with occasional rain.

 

To me it looks like the vinyl expanded into areas where the tape wasn't as tight.

I hope what you said is right, and be the fault of myself over-sensitive. For a reason it's not only happening to one doll, but multiple dolls. I will post any follow up news whenever I have an update.

I looked at your pictures rabbitodan and I couldn't see anything in them. I don't have the protection tape, but I hope that Volks will respond to you. I would be interested in seeing other photos of what happened to your doll, though.

Thanks for the information. I think it will be interesting/important to see if the vinyl "relaxes" a bit and reforms now that the tape is off. Keep us posted!

 

Linda S.

galatia9

Ack, that is scary! I do see some ridges where the tape had wrinkled, but I can't tell from the photo if material has been dissolved as you first thought. My recommendation would be to try a hot hair dryer on the area for a few minutes, massage the distortions and see if that loosens up the vinyl a bit. Keep us posted please

I used the protection tape around my girl's wig cap. When I took off the tape it also left wrinkles on my girl's head. But it just will be covered by her wig anyways. Sad that the protection tape ruins Dollfies where it was to help prevent stains. I would not recommend using the tape for long term use, it is only for short term use like quick photo shoots. We need to pass this warning to everyone.

Geez, well if it's only going to be good for one quick photo shoot then I think I'll stick with plastic wrap...

I took the tape off of her feet. I didn't notice anything on the tape, but when I took it off there was a stain on her heel,

 

 

Uh, great. Well it could have been a lot worse. That's after wearing the brown boots for two weeks. For the other foot, I took a photo of the tape beforehand and you can see there's a little staining on it,

 

 

Taking that off,

 

 

It's perfectly clean You can see some shadows there but I'm not sure those are actually stains, I think it's just the photo. I think I did wrap this foot up more thoroughly than the other, though (more than one layer of tape on the bottom).

 

As far as the vinyl getting a texture, it didn't really. I think that's because the feet aren't hollow, so air doesn't try and pass through it.

 

To summarize,

 

- The tape isn't perfect, it can be stained through. That's obvious I guess.

- The feet didn't really get affected by the swelling/whatever

- If you're going to use the tape, I'd say don't leave it on for more than a week.

- Dem boots stain. FYI they're not lined with white at all. I'd use the tape again and just not leave the boots on that long.

 

I mentioned before that there was a brown mark on her leg probably because of a gap, that's probably just because it stained through the tape. I don't remember seeing the tape itself get stained though.

I used them on the feet too and there was no sign of those problem, yet. I guess it is because the feet are much solid than other parts.

 

Dan asked me to come over to touch it but I didn't have time to yet, but from his photos, I can really see the "blood vein" effect or wrinkles created by the wrinkles of the tape. As it stands now, while I don't think the tape can "eat" away the areas where tape applied, those areas that are not fully touched by the tape would definitely look like swelling up to fill in those bubbles.

 

Here are the photos FYI 01 02. On Volks' photo circled are the wrinkles form the tape, and the other photo circled are the swells that I think probably fill in those wrinkles. Basically, it's not easy to see but just imagine them as those veins on the back of your hands...

Ohhh, I can see it now that you have circled it. Thank you. That's really unfortunate.

UEEEEHHHH Those wrinkles in the Volks pictures look nasty

Just looking at them gives me the heebie jeebies. I wonder why Volks didn't think it was a big deal. That must mean the effect is reversible...

UEEEEHHHH Those wrinkles in the Volks pictures look nasty

Just looking at them gives me the heebie jeebies. I wonder why Volks didn't think it was a big deal. That must mean the effect is reversible...

In the Volks pictures it's just the tape that's wrinkled (there's actually skin-coloured tape there). But where you get wrinkles like that, you'll get raised vinyl when you take the tape off.

UEEEEHHHH Those wrinkles in the Volks pictures look nasty

Just looking at them gives me the heebie jeebies. I wonder why Volks didn't think it was a big deal. That must mean the effect is reversible...

Yeah, as foo said, that Volks' photo is with the tape on so IRL, it won't look as visible. But because of the mere invisibility, it's even scarier to touch and feel them >.<

 

Oops

That's better then!

 

But still, I wouldn't want those veins on any of my girls. I hope it sorts out over time!

Wow. Thanks everyone for sharing this important information. I hope your DD's skin improves or Volks responds favourably to you. It's a pity that Volks cares so little about their customers. For the premium they charge, one would think they would respect their customers but no.

Update after a week:

 

I haven't used any hair dryers as some friends might suggest, but left it there for a week (and see if time can smooth it). All the noticeable texture change are still there, still touchable, though it *seems* came down a very little bit.

 

I got no reply from Volks, followed up another email, still no reply. I might not want to spam them any more, don't want to get my account banned

 

 

Edit: I have taken an updated photo for the condition and posted on my Facebook. I don't know how to make the image here? Lin if you could please make the link..

Edited October 13, 2014 by Guest

I had a look under a thigh piece on a mini and yeah I have the same problem. Luckily I haven't used it too much but also mailed Volks on it. I wouldn't send anymore emails as they can sometimes take weeks to respond to complaints from my experience.

I got a response from Volks but it may take a few weeks to hear any more

 

------------------------------------------

Thank you for your inquiry.

 

We will need some time to look into this matter and reply to you.

 

We are doing our best to reply to you as soon as possible, so please wait for a while.

 

Our sincere apologies for this inconvenience.

 

Sincerely

- The tape isn't perfect, it can be stained through. That's obvious I guess.

 

That makes sense. I've seen stains happen through thick head caps and body suits sometimes.

 

It's still disturbing that this tape can alter the vinyl though. Stains are fixable typically through various methods. But altering the vinyl is going to be a permanent change.

 

I kinda wanted to try some tape, but just haven't bought any yet. Not going to bother now. Will continue to use body suits, head caps, and Oxy.

Vinyl seems to have weird chemical reactions with some substances... I put a piece of sticky velcro on my girl's head cap one time (to help hold her wig on) and when I checked it later it was like the sticky part was melting. I quickly cleaned her off and I definitely don't use that sticky velcro on vinyl anymore. Regular masking tape seems to be fine, I haven't had any trouble with that. I wonder what it is that causes some sticky tapes to react? I had wrongly assumed this DD skin tape would be safe--they must have tested it after all--I guess I was too optimistic >_

There isn't a chemical reaction taking place with this tape, it's just that the tape is preventing the vinyl from expanding naturally. For example, vinyl is more flexible with heat, but with tape on one side it prevents any kind of expansion.

 

Sakuya's legs are almost fine if I touch them now, I can only tell that there is a crease where the edge of the tape was (and originally I could only visibly see stuff if I shined it in light). If I cared enough I'd try a hairdryer. Unfortunately if you've used it on a head around the forehead, I wouldn't want to use a hair dryer so close to the faceup.

There isn't a chemical reaction taking place with this tape, it's just that the tape is preventing the vinyl from expanding naturally. For example, vinyl is more flexible with heat, but with tape on one side it prevents any kind of expansion.

 

Sakuya's legs are almost fine if I touch them now, I can only tell that there is a crease where the edge of the tape was (and originally I could only visibly see stuff if I shined it in light). If I cared enough I'd try a hairdryer. Unfortunately if you've used it on a head around the forehead, I wouldn't want to use a hair dryer so close to the faceup.

 

I also think this makes a lot of scene. However, considering it happened during winter time which just finished here last month, I'll be very reluctant to use them extensively in the summer heat coming