Is Super Glue for Wounds Safe?

Oh, no. You cut yourself with a kitchen knife, and you have an ominous looking laceration on your hand. You don't feel like going to the emergency room to get it sewn up - and you've heard that Super Glue will hold the wound together until it heals. You pull out the trusty tube of sticky stuff and start squeezing it into the laceration to hold it together. Is this a good idea? Is Super Glue for wounds really safe?

Super Glue for Wounds: Does It Work in a Pinch?

Super Glue and Krazy Glue contain a chemical called cyanoacrylate, which is similar to the active ingredient in surgical glue. So it's not surprising that people have embraced these glues for home use. In fact, glues containing cyanoacrylate were used to seal up bleeding wounds during the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, they didn't prove to be a good solution even in a combat zone since wounds sealed with this compound became irritated in inflamed in too many cases.

To adapt Super Glue for wounds, researchers went on to modify the cyanoacrylate in it to make it less toxic and turn it into an adhesive that can be used for medical purposes. But you won't find this form of cyanoacrylate glue at your drug store. It's available only from medical supply companies.

Is Super Glue Safe for Wounds?

According to Prescriber's Letter, a letter for medical professionals, you shouldn't use Super Glue or any other cyanoacrylate glue from the drugstore on deep wounds that are substantial in size, but you can safely use it on superficial cuts like paper cuts in a pinch. As you know, it sticks to almost anything, so if you get it on your skin, use nail polish remover to remove it.

Super Glue for Wounds: The Bottom Line?

Save your Super Glue for only the most superficial wounds. Don't use it on wounds that are large in size or deep. You run the risk of irritation and inflammation that can lead to scarring. Super Glue is good for a lot of things, but it's not a good substitute for adequate wound care.

References:

Prescriber's Letter. May 30, 2008.