Topical Skin Adhesives

5 Best Skin Adhesives

Anyone with an injury requiring stitches would probably love to hear if there are other options. Stitching can be scary, especially to a child. But is skin adhesive a good choice when closing a wound? That depends on a few things.   

As I scrolled through my Facebook feed, I saw a picture of a little girl who had fallen and badly cut her chin. The caption under the photo was: "my daughter opted for medical glue instead of stitches."    

Skin adhesive is a less painful and less scary choice when closing a wound, so doesn't that make it a good option? It can be, but there are two very important factors to consider that would require stitches rather than skin adhesive.   

How Deep Is The Wound 

The first thing to determine is how far the wound goes into the layers of the skin. Generally speaking, the deeper the cut, the more it will need to be stitched.  

Wound Location   

Another factor is the location of the wound. If it is on the part of the body that moves a lot, like the knee or a knuckle, stitching, and limiting movement are required for proper healing.  

When To Use Skin Adhesives   

Many doctors will opt for skin adhesives to close a superficial wound. When you think about it, it makes sense that a deep cut would require stitches, while one that is superficial could be closed with skin adhesive. For a cut that is shallow or located on the face, medical glue is much less painful than stitching the skin, and the chance of scarring is minimalized.    

Skin adhesives are also used for serious wounds that require more protection than stitching alone. In these cases, medical glue is applied after the skin is sutured to create a dynamic duo of skin bonding.   

Can I Use Super Glue?   

One word: NO! Super glue is not formulated for use on human skin. It contains toxic ingredients and does not provide the flexibility of medical adhesive. Never use super glue on your skin for any reason! While it may be right there in your toolbox or the junk drawer in your kitchen, please keep it away from your cut.   

The 5 Best Skin Adhesives   

Let's take a look at the top 5 skin adhesives:   

These are just 5 available skin adhesive options. Shop HPFY for our complete line of skin adhesives and wound care essentials. Always seek medical advice for serious wounds. 

 

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