The backing and pouch are usually made of coated paper, but may also be made of plastic.
The adhesive sheet is usually fabric, plastic (PVC, polyethylene or polyurethane) or latex strip. It may or may not be waterproof; If it is sealed, the bandage is a blocking dressing. The binder is usually acrylates, including methacrylates and epoxy diacrylates (also known as vinyl resins).
Absorbent pads are usually made of cotton, sometimes with a thin porous polymer coating on the mat to prevent it from sticking to the wound. The pads can also be treated with a preservative solution. In some bandages, the mat is made of absorbent hydrogel. This is especially common in dressings used for blisters because the gel acts as a cushioning effect.
Many people are allergic to some of these materials, especially latex and some adhesives.