Adhesive bandages having a backing layer with first and second opposing surfaces, an adhesive layer applied to the second surface of the backing layer and an absorbent pad associated with the backing layer, the absorbent pad including a first surface that faces the second surface of the backing layer and an opposing second surface having a plurality of tufted regions surrounded and separated by a first network of interconnecting channels recessed in the second surface of the absorbent pad; where the shape of the tufted regions is a polygon having from five to eight sides, the tufted regions have a substantially uniform first density, the channel base region has a substantially uniform second density that is greater than the substantially uniform first density of the tufted regions and the network of channels is visible.