Patient education: Skin glue for minor cuts (The Basics)

What is skin glue? — This is a special type of glue that can be used on skin and other body tissues. The term doctors use for skin glue is "tissue adhesives."

Doctors use skin glue to close certain types of cuts. The glue holds the wound closed until it has a chance to heal. In some cases, skin glue is a good alternative to stitches. It usually causes less pain and is quicker to apply than stitches. Cuts closed with skin glue heal about as well as cuts closed with stitches.

Some examples of skin glue and their brand names are:

●Histoacryl

●PeriAcryl

●Dermabond

●Surgiseal

It is possible to buy some of these products without a prescription, but do not use them on your own, without talking to a doctor or nurse first. If used the wrong way, skin glue can cause problems.

When do doctors use skin glue? — Doctors most often use skin glue for cuts that:

●Are clean, straight, and short (less than 2 inches or 5 centimeters long)

●Close up neatly without causing the skin to be tight

Doctors avoid using skin glue for wounds that:

●Pull or gape open (unless they first use stitches to hold the layers underneath closed)

●Involve the hands, feet, or joints, unless those body parts are kept still (for example, with a cast)

●Have ragged edges, involve crushing injuries, or do not close up neatly

●Involve soft, wet tissues, such as those lining the mouth or vagina

●Involve hairy areas, unless the hair is trimmed

●Require the doctor to be very precise, for example, because they involve the hairline or the outline of the lips

●Could easily become infected, such as bites or punctures

Doctors do not use skin glue for people who are allergic to it. They might also avoid using glue for people who have diabetes, poor circulation, a bleeding disorder, or another problem that could delay wound healing. But this depends on the specific situation.

What will the doctor do when using skin glue? — To apply skin glue, your doctor will:

●Clean out your wound well

●Give you numbing medicine if you need it – Applying skin glue usually does not hurt as much as stitches or staples. But you still might get numbing medicine so you don't feel pain when the glue is applied.

●Your doctor will hold the edges of the cut together and apply the glue – If you have a deep cut, the doctor might stitch the inner layers of tissue before applying the glue to the outer edges. If the cut is long, they might use a special kind of tape (sample brand names: Steri-Strips, Leukostrips) to hold it closed while it heals.

●After the wound is closed with the glue, the doctor will not use a bandage. The glue itself works like a bandage.

How do I take care of my cut? — Your doctor or nurse will give you specific instructions, depending on the type of skin glue used and where your cut is.

Here is some general advice:

●You do not need to bandage a wound that was closed with skin glue. The glue works like a bandage.

●Do not use antibiotic ointment (sample brand names: Polysporin, Bacitracin) – This can cause the glue to break down too quickly.

●You can shower while the glue is on your skin, but do not take a bath, soak in water, or scrub the area for 7 to 10 days. Dry your skin by patting it gently with a towel.

The glue will peel off on its own, usually in 5 to 10 days. If the glue is still on your skin after 10 days, you can use antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly (sample brand name: Vaseline) to get it off. You do not need to see the doctor again unless the wound doesn't heal well or you have signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or pus.

When should I call the doctor or nurse? — Call your doctor or nurse if:

●Your cut opens up again

●You get a fever

●You have pain, redness, or swelling around the cut, or pus drains from the cut

What should I do after I heal? — After you heal, you should protect the scar from the sun. Use sunscreen on the area or wear clothes or a hat that covers the scar.

Your doctor or nurse might also recommend using certain lotions or creams to help your scar heal.

More on this topic

Patient education: Stitches and staples (The Basics)
Patient education: Taking care of cuts, scrapes, and puncture wounds (The Basics)
Patient education: Taking care of bruises (The Basics)