Hydrocolloid adhesive tape

A pressure sensitive adhesive tape comprising a backing layer, and an occlusive adhesive layer coating laminated to said backing layer, said adhesive layer coating comprising from about 30% to about 60% by weight of a rubbery elastomer selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, acrylonitrile rubber, polyurethane rubber, styrenic block copolymers, and polyisobutylene, from about 20% to about 65% by weight of one or more water soluble or water swellable hydrocolloids selected from the group consisting of guar gum, starch sodium carboxymethylcellulose, cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, gelatin, alginic acid, locust bean gum, and up to 35% by weight of one or more tackifiers, plasticizers, and antioxidants;

• said adhesive layer coating being from about 0.0025 to about 0.007 inches thick and said adhesive layer coating being occlusive with a porosity less than about 1 cc/sec/in2.