Extensible dressings

An adhesive bandage comprising:

• (a) a dressing comprising a layer of material comprising a laminate having a nonwoven layer comprising polyester fibers and a nonstick, high density polyethylene net, the layer of material having a plurality of material free regions, wherein:
• (i) the material free regions are in the form of curvilinear sigmoid pattern units, the curvilinear sigmoidal pattern units having dimensions and oriented and arranged in a regular array such that the layer of material has a Stretchability Testxy extension in at least one of a 45° diagonal direction of at least 1125% more than the same layer of material without material free regions when applying a force of from 0.2 kgf along such 45° diagonal direction of the layer of material;
• and
• (ii) the curvilinear sigmoidal pattern units have a width w and a length I, and further wherein the length I of the curvilinear sigmoidal pattern unit is from 1 to 6 times the width w of the curvilinear sigmoidal pattern unit;
• and
• (b) a backing layer comprising an elastomeric film having an adhesive disposed on a major surface thereof and being adhered to the nonwoven layer of the laminate;
• wherein, upon application of the adhesive bandage to a user's skin in a substantially unstressed condition, the dressing is capable of stretching with the skin during use to minimize detachment of the dressing therefrom.