What Nexcare does

Nexcare is a global consumer health brand specializing in first aid and wound care products, operating as a wholly-owned brand division of 3M Company (NYSE: MMM). Its product portfolio spans six core categories—bandages, tapes and wraps, wound dressings, skin care (including acne patches and skin crack care), eye patches (including the Opticlude orthoptic line for amblyopia), and hot/cold therapy packs—encompassing over 40 SKUs sold across more than 40 countries. The brand's core technical differentiation is built on proprietary materials science platforms licensed from 3M's hospital business: waterproof breathable film with microscopic pores, hydrocolloid absorbent technology (used in blister bandages and acne patches), wet-application adhesive technology, pain-free repositionable silicone adhesives, and a 360-degree diamond-shaped seal design.

Nexcare generates revenue exclusively through one-time retail purchases of physical OTC healthcare products. Products are distributed via mass-market channels—drugstores, grocery chains, mass merchandisers, and online retail platforms—rather than through a direct-to-consumer storefront; pricing is set by individual retailers and not disclosed on the brand website. The customer base is the broad consumer public, with targeted sub-segments including sensitive-skin users, infants and elderly, athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, and acne sufferers. Marketing is product-led, centered on educational content (first aid tips, curated use-case kits, an Ask the Expert program with a 3M application engineer), structured ratings and reviews, and social sharing—aimed at converting 3M's clinical credibility into retail purchase intent.

Name

Nexcare

Legal name

3M Company

Website

https://nexcare.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nexcare is a global 3M-owned consumer health brand selling over 40 SKUs of first aid and wound care products—bandages, tapes, dressings, acne patches, and eye patches—across 40+ countries through drugstore, grocery, mass-merchandiser, and online retail channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

First Aid and Wound Care

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

First Aid & Wound Care (Bandages, Dressings, Antiseptics, Burn Care) (CRADAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Treatment Skincare (Serums, Actives, Acne & Anti-aging) (CRABAAAB)

Keywords

• Wound care products
• First aid supplies
• Adhesive bandages
• Medical tapes wraps
• Consumer healthcare

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Consumer First Aid & Wound Care Products: Nexcare generates revenue through the sale of physical consumer healthcare products including bandages, tapes, wound dressings, skin care, and related first aid supplies. Products are sold through mass-market retail channels (drug stores, grocery, mass merchandisers) and online. The brand is part of 3M's Consumer Health portfolio. Revenue is derived from one-time product purchases at retail price points.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nexcare is a consumer healthcare brand of 3M Company that sells first aid and wound care products through mass-market retail and online channels. The portfolio spans adhesive bandages (including DUO bandages with silicone adhesive and waterproof lines), medical tapes and wraps, advanced wound dressings (Tegaderm, hydrocolloid pads, adhesive gauze), skin care items (acne patches, liquid bandages, skin crack care), orthoptic eye patches (Opticlude), and reusable hot/cold therapy packs. Products are designed by translating hospital-grade 3M technologies into consumer-friendly formats for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, blisters, acne, and post-procedure protection.

Product overview

Nexcare is a comprehensive first aid and wound care product brand owned by 3M, offering over 40 distinct products across six core categories: Bandages (including DUO Bandages with proprietary silicone technology for all-day hold and pain-free removal, waterproof, fabric, ultra-stretch, blister, and strong hold pain-free removal varieties), Tapes/Wraps (encompassing waterproof, sensitive skin, gentle paper, soft cloth, durable cloth, flexible clear, athletic cloth, and foot protection tapes), Wound Dressings (featuring Tegaderm waterproof transparent dressings, hydrocolloid pads, adhesive gauze pads, and sensitive skin dressings), Skin Care (including acne patches with hydrocolloid technology and skin crack care), Eye Patches (Opticlude orthoptic eyepatches and Gentle Removal patches for amblyopia treatment), and Hot/Cold Packs (reusable cold and hot therapy). The brand leverages key technologies including waterproof breathable films with microscopic holes, hydrocolloid absorbent materials, cushioned foam protection, and proprietary silicone adhesives. Products are designed to translate hospital-grade technology for consumer use, with offerings ranging from basic adhesive bandages to advanced Tegaderm dressings that can stay on for up to seven days. Nexcare operates globally across the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Duo Bandages: Bandages offering all-day hold and pain-free removal in one product
• Tegaderm
• Opticlude

Products and services

• Nexcare Bandages A comprehensive line of adhesive bandages for minor wound care, including waterproof, fabric, ultra-stretch, blister, strong hold pain-free removal, and DUO varieties. Targeted at individual consumers and families for everyday first aid.
• Nexcare Tapes and Wraps Medical-grade adhesive tapes for securing dressings, including waterproof, sensitive skin, gentle paper, soft cloth, durable cloth, flexible clear, athletic cloth, and foot protection tapes. Used by consumers to secure wound dressings and support joints.
• Nexcare Wound Dressings Advanced wound care products including Tegaderm waterproof transparent dressings, adhesive gauze pads, hydrocolloid pads, and sensitive skin dressings for covering and protecting injuries. Aimed at consumers needing hospital-grade wound protection at home.
• Nexcare Skin Care Skin care products including acne patches, skin crack care, liquid bandage spray, and sensitive skin tapes for treating blemishes, cracked skin, and protecting sensitive areas. Designed for general consumers and acne sufferers.
• Nexcare Eye Patches Eye patches for vision-occlusive therapy including Opticlude orthoptic eyepatches and Gentle Removal eye patches for treating amblyopia (lazy eye) and protecting sensitive eye areas. Targeted at parents of children undergoing occlusion therapy.
• Nexcare Hot/Cold Packs Reusable cold and hot therapy packs for treating injuries, reducing swelling, and providing pain relief for various body areas. Sold to general consumers for home first aid and sports recovery.
• Nexcare Duo Bandages Advanced adhesive bandages featuring proprietary silicone technology that provides all-day hold (up to 24 hours) combined with pain-free removal, utilizing a 360-degree seal design. Targeted at consumers with sensitive skin and those wanting long-wear, pain-free bandage changes.
• Nexcare Tegaderm+Pad Waterproof Transparent Dressing Hospital-grade waterproof transparent film dressing with absorbent pad that stays on for up to seven days, providing breathable protection while allowing wound observation. Aimed at consumers needing long-wear, waterproof wound coverage.
• Nexcare Sensitive Skin Dressings Adhesive pads designed with proprietary silicone adhesive technology for sensitive skin, infants, and elderly, featuring pain-free removal and repositionable application. Targeted at users with fragile or reactive skin requiring frequent dressing changes.
• Nexcare Acne Patches Non-drying, transparent hydrocolloid pimple patches that absorb pus and oil from clogged pores, acting as protective covers to prevent touching blemishes. Available in multiple sizes and pack counts. Targeted at acne sufferers across age groups.
• Nexcare Skin Crack Care Liquid bandage formula that seals painful dry cracked skin with a fast-drying clear waterproof seal, applied via brush applicator for fingers, hands, feet, and elbows. Targeted at consumers with dry, cracked skin conditions.
• Nexcare Liquid Bandage Spray No-sting liquid bandage spray that creates a waterproof clear shield for covering difficult-to-bandage areas and larger abrasions, drying in about 30 seconds. Targeted at consumers seeking easy-to-apply protection for awkward wound locations.
• Nexcare Opticlude Orthoptic Eyepatch Eye patches designed for treating amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) as part of doctor-recommended treatment, with breathable backing and non-stick pad. Targeted at pediatric patients and parents managing occlusion therapy at home.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tegaderm Transparent Dressings can stay on for up to 7 days
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Medline Industries: Largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, owner of Curad and a broad portfolio of wound-care, tape, and bandage products competing with Nexcare across retail and institutional channels.
• Smith & Nephew: Global medical devices company with a substantial advanced wound management portfolio (Allevyn, Acticoat) that overlaps with Nexcare's hydrocolloid, transparent dressing, and wound-care technologies at the professional and consumer border.
• Coloplast: Global wound and skin care company with Biatain and Comfeel hydrocolloid dressings, competing with Nexcare in advanced wound care while also demonstrating consumer-adjacent sensitive-skin positioning.
• HARTMANN Group: German medical and consumer health company offering wound care (Cosmopor, Hydrocoll) and first-aid product lines that compete with Nexcare in European retail and pharmacy channels.
• Mölnlycke Health Care: Swedish wound-care and surgical solutions provider whose Mepitel, Mepilex, and Avance negative-pressure systems overlap with Nexcare's hospital-derived wound-care technologies.
• 3M Health Care (Solventum): The healthcare-focused spin-off of 3M that absorbed hospital-grade Tegaderm, medical tapes, and professional wound-care lines, providing institutional-scale competition and parent technology overlap relevant to Nexcare's hospital-to-consumer pipeline.
• ConvaTec: Wound, ostomy and continence care specialist whose hydrocolloid and advanced dressing technologies compete with Nexcare's hospital-grade product platforms in adjacent professional and consumer-adjacent channels.

Emerging players

• Hero Cosmetics: Digitally native skincare brand that popularized Mighty Patch hydrocolloid acne patches, directly challenging Nexcare's acne patch line through superior social-media marketing and DTC velocity despite much smaller retail footprint.

Direct peers

• Band-Aid (Johnson & Johnson): Johnson & Johnson's flagship adhesive bandage brand and Nexcare's most direct global competitor across waterproof, sensitive-skin, and hydrocolloid bandage formats, with comparable mass-market retail distribution and household brand recognition.
• Curad: Medline-owned consumer first-aid brand offering bandages, tapes, and wound dressings across the same drugstore and mass-retail channels as Nexcare, directly competing on price-value positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nexcare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nexcare