A skin-friendly hook component (20, 86, 94) of a hook and loop fastener that reduces or eliminates the occurrence of red-marking and/or irradiation if brought into contact with a wearer's skin. In one embodiment, the hook component can have a relatively large top surface area among the hooks (24) with respect to a surface area of the hook backing (26). In another embodiment, the hook backing (26) is highly flexible, attributable to a flexible resin and/or modified topography. In yet another embodiment, a highly flexible polymer, or polymers, can be used to make individual hooks (24) such that the hooks bend in response to a minimum amount of pressure. Various illustrated hook tapes have features (74, 78, 88, 98) along their edges to enhance skin-friendliness. A skin-friendly hook component results any combination of the disclosed embodiments. The hook component is particularly beneficial when used in absorbent articles.