Crazy Glue... for a cut?

[G S]

I wonderfully cut my index finger the other day with a serrated bread knife. Thankfully it mostly caught my nail as the blade slipped, so it only looks like a bad papercut at the moment. I have been applying skin shield on it every chance I get so that I can continue working. But it wares off very easily. Thankfully I haven't been too busy. I have massaged with gloves in the past, but want to try to avoid that if possible. One of my clients suggested using crazy glue to seal the wound, but I am worried about that being rough on the client. I figure I can always file it down... Has anyone tried this?

 

[Mahal]

I can't say that I have, but I have used elmer's glue to pull out a splinter.

Let us know if you try it.

 

[Slobo]

I have used it many times in past occupations where I used and abused my hands. Dried and rough they would split at times and deep enough to cause pain. While holding the split open slightly I would apply a drop of super glue and let the split close on it's own or maybe hold a little pressure while the glue dried. Seemed like cutting off the air made the pain go away, too. A quick swipe with a tissue or paper towel will wipe off excess if done before it dries. Obviously you don't want extra fingers glued to the cut so be careful holding things together. If it ends up being too rough you could either use gloves or remove the glue with acetone (hardware store/or also found in some fingernail polish removers). Now, along with the usual disclaimers, I'll say it has worked well for me.

 

[Spencer]

crazy glue was created to close wounds. it's medical grade where as super glue is not. they used crazy glue in vietam to close bullet wounds. it's still used at the base in antartica. climbers use it when the rock tears the skin on their fingers. that's where i've first seen it used. i sliced the middle of my nail open while lubing the chain on my mountain bike. it works great.

 

[Kitty 2]

"crazy glue was created to close wounds. it's medical grade where as super glue is not" ---- That may be and it may be that God protects people like me, (hehe). I haphazardly and ignorantly used whatever brand of cyanoacrylate that was handy and over the years have had no adverse reaction, even when applied into the dermis layer. (That said, I am becoming more scatter brained, which I had been attributing to age, hmmm?). I will start checking the label a little more thoroughly though. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Neo Draven]

i've been told that krazy glue is non-toxic and super glue is toxic. although i don't see any mention of that on the crazy glue label. they make a brush-on bottle. i keep it in my purse just in case. i'm clumsey. :


it's krazy glue with a "K" not a "C". i don't know if that matters.

 

[Danny P]

thanks everyone!

And just so you know jillith... spelling has always been my downfall!

 

[Larry E]

Just a thought -- have you tried New Skin (liquid bandage)? It's much better than the "Band-Aid" brand. It's what I use! The smell is strong when you put it on, but dissipates once it dries!

 

[sheri]

I have tried that too... it seems to wear off when I work.

 

[Ameliasaur<3]

Yes Yes Yes. Although it technically IS toxic you can use Cyanoacrylates (super glues) for superficial skin lacerations. Limit these to paper cut or knife sliced fingers etc.
If I am not home when it happens I use something called Colloidon. It is derived from Ether and is very flammable. Used to use Dermabond until we stopped using it.
Many suture lines are covered with Colloidon before we dress the wound.
The edges can become rough but I have already picked it off or scrubbed it off(I have to scrub at least 5 times on a slow day).

It is important to approximate the tissue before applying...simply put, hold the edges of the papercut together before applying.

Crazy glue is in my mini first aid kit.

Robyn

 

[Joanne A. W]

:shock: I would never use anything that toxic on or in my body...especially on an open wound :shock:

 

[groovybug]

I have tried New Skin and it burn's like hell. Haven't tried Krazy glue for cut's yet but I know that bartenders sometimes use it for cut's.
I will be trying that, sometime soon, I am sure.

Namaste,
T

 

[2 fingers pointing back!!]

:shock: wholly cow you learn something new every day! i would have NEVER dreamed you could use crazy glue on a cut. :shock:

 

[vodafonewtf]

:shock: I would never use anything that toxic on or in my body...especially on an open wound :shock:

Why not? Never? I cut myself badly on Sunday night. No bandages, no first aid kit. What I did have was a bottle of superglue (hobby brand gel cyanoacrylate,) that I was using at the moment to glue coral frags in my reef aquarium. Since I was bleeding insanely, (I had to tourniquet my finger,) it seems to me that the "toxic" solution was the least dangerous option. And it completely sealed the wound, no infection.

Yes, CA is "toxic," but hobbyists have been using superglue for YEARS in closed loop aquarium systems to set corals and rockwork, with the creatures in the tank, with no ill effects- either in the short term or the long term. Being that humans are not confined to a closed loop, and are so much larger than anything in the tank, and far less sensitive than a live coral (or SW fish,) the toxicity is minimal unless one is planning to bathe in it.

It seems to me, unless someone lives in a bubble, there are far more dangerous things encountered every day. And superglue/cyanoacrylate is an appropriate and viable treatment for wounds. The Krazyglue/Superglue story is only partially true. Some "superglue" products have colorants and fixative additives that may be more or less toxic. Read the label. If it says "cyanoacrylate" only, it is perfectly adequate for first aid applications.

Stacey

 

[VICTORY]

I've worked with Nail Tech. who swore by crazy glue to protect their cuts. On the plus side, it wears well, doesn't feel gross to the client, works to help heal. AND....be sure and clean wound well BEFORE applying it. Sealing in bacteria before the glue dries = nice breading ground for bacteria....[/b]

 

[Only by the grace of God]

Hi,
I know this is too late to help you, but it might help someone else.
That is pretty much what they use in ER's now for cuts as long as it isn't on the part that flexes. They suggest stitches for that. They use it on faces too. Just make sure that you put a bandaid or a piece of tape over it, so you don't put too much stress on the skin. My finger had what they call superglue on it when I cut it, and that is what they told me to do. If you don't want to try it, you can go to your pharmacy and get "steri Strips" they work good too. I have had much experience in cuts on my fingers from all the sewing I do. As long as you are up to date on your tetnus shots, I would fix it yourself. Save you the money on ER bills. Hope this helps.

 

[Fins+Wings{8 - 88}]

I have been using crazy glue to mend minor cuts for years. I bowl quite a bit, and I sometimes get cuts and cracks on my fingers, but nothing a little crazy glue can't fix.

 

[Jrbott]

ok, I may be a bit behind on this post, but since I get a lot of nicks and cuts this is what I find works for me.

Pinch, or tightly compress the wound for about 10 mintues and then quickly apply the "Band-Aid" brand liquid bandage (if cut not too deep). For the dreaded bread knife gashes --yeah, I never learn I can't talk and cut crusty bread at the same time-- I like the Band-Aid 'jelly bandages'. You apply them and they stay on for a few days. They come in a variety of shapes. Gotta really compress the wound first to give it time to start clotting deep inside or you'll have a real bleeder and then these bandages have to be changed out more often. Clients tell me they cannot tell the 'jelly' bandages from my own skin. I like that they seal the wound with a nice smooth edge, something not always possible with liquid bandages on some kinds of cuts.

Never had any luck with the "Nu Skin" brand...it stings and wears off too quickly. Band-Aid doesn't sting, seals faster, and leaves a longer-lasting, nicely smooth seal (crazy glue isn't always smooth).

 

[Ace of Clubs]

Used to work in surgical center at a veterinary hospital. What you are looking for is called "Dermabond". You can buy it a variety of places, a million places on the web. It is surgical grade super glue, sterile, and is usually purple in color so it's easy to see where you've put it. Works great! Used it hundreds of times, and NO STING!
-A

 

[Paultech]

I cut my finger, when I was chopping vegetables last night! Pretty deep. :shock: My first thought was, "Oh no! My massage hands!" After a compress stopped the bleeding, I covered the wound with an herbal salve & band-aid, and hoped by morning it would magically heal itself. (This salve is good & does wonders on little cuts). Well, in the morning, my cut was clean & pain-free, but still a deep slice. I knew I couldn't work with it this way. So, I've now been initiated into the Krazy Glue Culture! :

I bought the original Krazy Glue. Prepared a wet rag to wipe off any excess. Carefully squeezed one drop into the cut. Pushed the skin together to seal & held for 30 seconds. Voila! It's amazing how effective it is, and how long-lasting. I'd recommend it to anyone in the same situation! I would suggest you clean the cut first and if you have time, do the first step of healing ointment & band-aid to kickstart the healing process. But when it's time to use your hands, Krazy Glue closes the wound perfectly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, so I knew to try this when it happened to me!