If you’ve stuck around this blog for any amount of time, you’ll have noticed that I have reviewed a truckload of knives. As a consequence of this devotion to sharp objects, I very frequently find myself with nicks and cuts of all sizes (curse you assisted openers!).
Rather than defaulting to using bandages to seal those cuts, I’ve instead found myself becoming very good friends with superglue over the years. I find that I tend to favor using superglue over bandages (or even stitches!) as super glue provides a quick solution that allows me to keep using the limb with the cut with very little discomfort and no (or limited) scarring.
I firmly believe that super glue is one of the best options available for sealing cuts. It’s not ideal for sealing all cuts, but for most cuts that people end up with on a day to day basis (small- to medium-sized straight cuts that were caused by paper, the use of kitchen knives, etc.) super glue does a better job than any of the alternatives.
Now I know that there is, quite frankly, a high level of doubt within the general population with regards to whether super glue really works for sealing cuts (let alone with regards to whether it should be used in this way), but I’m here to try to set the story straight. If experience has taught me anything it’s that some genius way of doing something can be lying right under people’s noses and often unless it’s culturally acceptable, people won’t ever bother to try it. I’m almost guaranteed to get glares of confusion (and concern!) when I tell a new person how I sealed the fresh cut I just got yesterday with a bit of super glue. It took me hours to convince my in-laws that this was a perfectly viable way to close cuts, and my grandmother still feels uncomfortable with the idea to this day.
I’m here to tell you that if you’re open to the idea of doing something that goes against the grain when it comes to sealing your cuts shut – you’re in luck, as you’ll find that super glue is pretty much magic in a squeeze-bag when it comes to this. Superglue rocks when it comes to this application, and I’m here to show you why.
And now of course for a disclaimer: just because a (handsome) guy over the internet tells you something is completely okay, doesn’t mean that you’re no longer responsible for your own actions. As with everything in life, the buck stops with you, so do your own due diligence and when in doubt always seek professional advice.
The following article is my opinion only. I am not a medical practitioner and take no responsibility for how you use the information contained within this piece.
A Brief Background on Superglue and Cuts
Superglue is an acrylic based resin called Cyanoacrylate (CA). It is sold under many different brand names, from Krazy Glue to Loctite. It was invented in the 1940s/1950s during the war effort, but found uses beyond being a mere fast acting adhesive during the Vietnam war.
Super glue was originally created in 1942 in an attempt to use the material to make clear plastic sights for the guns being used in the war. Cyanoacrylate failed at this purpose because it was just way too sticky. But while it is a myth that super glue was originally invented as a way for soldiers to close their wounds on the battlefield – it does seem to be true that, historically, super glue was re-appropriated to be used in such a way. It seems the soldiers in the Vietnam war were often patched up using super glue, though by medics and not the soldiers themselves, and only in order to stop the bleeding long enough to carry the wounded away.
The primary advantage of super glue is that it works fast (instant glue is a well deserved moniker). It also creates an impermeable seal that is resistant to the environment (including water) and leaves behind little to no scarring.
What Kind of Superglue Can Be Used to Seal a Cut?
Super glue is a common term to describe a household adhesive. The medical stuff is quite a bit different and spawned due to two significantly adverse side effects;
- When applied, the glue creates a exothermic reaction (basically heat) when curing; this can damage the surrounding tissue and make the situation worse.
- The curing processes releases cyanoacetate and formaldehyde, which irritate the eyes, lungs, throat & nose.
As a consequence of these side effects, new adhesives were invented to minimize these reactions that are designed expressly for medical and surgical uses. They come in 2 common compositions from different manufacturers, but all have increased strength, generate far less irritation when used on skin, and are much superior when it comes to flexibility – which as you can imagine is quite useful!
The two medical grade super glues are:
1. 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (rated for the closure of wounds and surgical incision and as a barrier against common bacterial microbes)
- SurgiSeal
- FloraSeal
- Dermabond (probably the most ubiquitous one)
- Derma+Flex
2. n-butyl cyanoacrylate (Very similar to 2-octyl but less rigid, more flexible, and consequently not as strong)
- Liquiband
- Indermil
- GluShield
- GluStitch
