First Aid Bruises, Cuts & Punctures Can You Use Super Glue to Heal Cuts and Scrapes? By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 07, 2023 Medically reviewed by Jurairat J. Molina, MD Medically reviewed by Jurairat J. Molina, MD Facebook Jurairat J. Molina, MD, MBA is a board-certified allergist who has been practicing in field of allergy and clinical immunology for the past two decades. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Why Super Glue? Minor Cuts and Scrapes When Not to Use It Alternatives You've likely used Super Glue to repair broken ceramics, mount wooden frames, or stop runs in nylon stockings. But Super Glue and medically approved versions of cyanoacrylates (the chemical name for these adhesives) have an important use for helping fix your cuts and scrapes. While you may be used to putting it in your hardware drawer, it may be time to add a tube of one of Super Glue's FDA-approved cousins to your medicine cabinet. Melania Brescia / Moment / Getty Images Why Super Glue? There's a long history of the use of cyanoacrylates for wounds. Formulations of cyanoacrylate were tested for use in creating clear plastic gun sights during World War II, but they were too sticky. However, medics started using it to close wounds on the battlefield and less-irritating formulations were further field-tested during the Vietnam War. After that, Super Glue was seen as a quick, reliable way to protect soldiers and prep them for transport. Medics saw it as the best option in the absence of hospital-grade materials, as it was less scarring, could be used quickly, and was waterproof. In 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a medical adhesive formulation named Dermabond (2-octyl cyanoacrylate) which is less toxic, four times as strong in bonding, and has plasticizers to improve flexibility. Now, doctors say clean cuts, such as paper cuts, knife cuts, and other minor cuts, are good options for using medically approved forms of cyanoacrylates such as Dermabond, SurgiSeal, and Band-Aid Liquid Bandage. Super Glue for Minor Cuts and Scrapes If you've ever gotten any Super Glue on your skin, you know the clear adhesive dries fast and stays put. It also keeps air and dirt out of the wound and helps small skin cracks or small cuts, like a paper cut, heal. The glue not only stops bleeding quickly but also protects the skin from scarring. Eventually, the glue wears off, by which time the wound should be healed. First Aid for Bruises, Cuts, and Punctures When Not to Use Super Glue Although using Super Glue might work in a pinch, experts say it can irritate the skin. Regular Super Glue has side effects that are not desirable for those using it for medical reasons. Not only does it irritate the eyes, throat, nose, and lungs, but it also damages the tissue surrounding a cut. To avoid these side effects, use a medical-grade super glue meant specifically for minor cuts and scrapes. Even the medical formulations should never be used on deep wounds. Deep wounds must be cleaned, disinfected, and bandaged to stave off infection and ensure bleeding is stopped and the skin heals evenly. These adhesives should not be used on: Jagged woundsBitesPuncturesJointsHands and feetArmpitsPerineumMucosal surfacesContaminated wounds Alternatives to Super Glue For a safer wound-healing glue, consider Dermabond, which is approved by the FDA for skin wound closure. You can also use a semipermeable dressing (Tegaderm, Bioclusive, Second Skin, or New Skin) to cover the wound and attach the dressing to dry healthy skin with adhesive tape. The dressing should be changed every few days. Keep the wound moist until it has healed. A moist environment promotes healing, improves tissue formation, and protects the area from infection. Buy From Amazon.com: Dermabond Tegaderm New Skin 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bhargava R. Superglue in First Aid Boxes. International Journal of First Aid Education. 2018;2(1). doi:10.21038/ijfa.2018.0001 Champagne, C. "Serendipity, Super Glue and Surgery: Cyanoacrylates as Hemostatic Aids in the Vietnam War".The Proceedings of the 18th Annual History of Medicine Days, University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, Calgary, AB. González JG. Cianoacrilato: Definición y propiedades. Toxicidad y efectos secundarios. Aplicaciones en medicina y odontología. Avances en Odontoestomatología. 2012;28(2):95-102. doi:10.4321/s0213-12852012000200006 Gulalp B, Seyhan T, Gursoy S, Altinors MN. Emergency wounds treated with cyanoacrylate and long-term results in pediatrics: a series of cases; what are the advantages and boards?. BMC Res Notes. 2009;2:132. Published 2009 Jul 14. doi:10.1186/1756-0500-2-132 Jones C, Ho W, Samy M, Boom S, Lam W. Comparison of glues, sutures, and other commercially available methods of skin closure: A review of literature. Medical Research Archives. 2017;5(7). doi:10.18103/mra.v5i7.1419 Additional Reading Should Super Glue Be in Your First Aid Kit? Mayo Clinic. https://mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/should-super-glue-be-in-your-first-aid-kit. DermaBond Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf/P960052b.pdf. By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit