# Out of real band-aids. Is there anything wrong with this? (Duct tape question!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 28, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085 "2003-05-28T19:12:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/1 "2003-05-28T19:12:38Z")
As I have a cut that I’d like to keep covered, and I’m out of band-aids, I decided to “make” my own with a piece of sterile gauze, some Neosporin, and a small strip of duct tape. Is there anything wrong with this? Is the glue from the duct tape harmful in any way? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/2 "2003-05-28T19:20:41Z")
No. I do it all the time, but I use a little spit, a piece of toilet paper or shop rag remnant and electrical tape. But only when super-glue isn’t handy. Even better, let that sucker air-out. They heal faster that way for me. * * * Fagjunk Theology: Not just for sodomite propagandists anymore. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/3 "2003-05-28T19:23:11Z")
Well, it’s going to hurt like a bitch when you take it off because the adhesive’s so strong, but it shouldn’t cause any real harm. ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/4 "2003-05-28T19:26:36Z")
I am not a doctor nor am I giving you medical advice. I have covered cuts with just masking tape without any problems. I would think putting gauze with Neosporin covered by duct tape would be fine. I do not know if DT glue is toxic. I doubt it. Just make sure you bandage the cut loosely so the tape doesn’t touch the cut. ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/5 "2003-05-28T19:38:08Z")
My SO swears by Super Glue tm. And he cuts himself every single day of the week. I have tried it and it stings like the dickens. Is the cut small enough to try it? ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/6 "2003-05-28T23:25:59Z")
I’m not sure who makes it, but I always keep a bottle of New-Skin handy. It’s like superglue, but…uh, packaged differently. You just brush some on to whatever wound, let it dry, and it seals your cut. Stings like nothing else, but I swear by it for cuts on my fingers (violins and bandaids don’t work well together.) ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/7 "2003-05-28T23:25:59Z")
One million stagehands and theatre techs can’t be wrong! Duct tape makes for a splendid bandage that won’t split or peel off no mater how many more flats you have to move. The masochistic ones just use the tape alone. Saner folks use a bit of napkin from the roach coach if they have the time. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sengle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@sengle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sengle)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/8 "2003-05-28T23:35:02Z")
I recall during some first aid training, our teacher, and EMT told us that they keep small disposable diapers and duct tape in the truck at all times as a way of creating whatever bandages they need. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/9 "2003-05-28T23:38:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lyllyan \* > **My SO swears by Super Glue** Could your SO come explain a bit? ---
**Author:** ![Waddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bb73d2/32.png) [@Waddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waddle)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/10 "2003-05-29T01:08:28Z")
my friend had a prettyu nasty cutn on his forehead. So we took him to the hospital, where they used a medical form of super glue. I asked the nurse what the differnce between the 2 was and he said nothing. Since then I’ve used super glue for all my non-stitches required cuts. Works wonders ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/11 "2003-05-29T01:17:48Z")
In the emerg, they often use sterile superglue to close wounds. It should not be used anywhere remotely close to the eyes, on mucous membranes or on cuts that are actively bleeding. And if you put it on the wrong spot, it creates one heck of a mess and can make the wound much worse. But the idea isn’t wacky at all. Duct tape and neosporin would work fine, but usually so would plain neosporin. Presumably the tape would help stop the bleeding a bit faster. A one dose tube of medical superglue costs about $40. It is sterile, more liquidy, comes with a handy applicator and dries faster than superglue, but is essentially the same stuff, just 40 times the price. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/12 "2003-05-29T01:29:01Z")
Good to hear! Thanks a lot, dopers. I’ve actually been doing this for years, but for some reason I just started wondering whether duct tape glue could be toxic in any way. ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/13 "2003-05-29T01:47:00Z")
I seem to be having an outbreak of sheer stupidity **clayton\_e** , cuz I don’t follow. Do you want to know how he uses it? If so…hold the cut together and glue. It serves the same purpose as a butterfly bandage, sealing over the cut. on review…yeah, what **Waddle** and **Dr\_Paprika** said. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/14 "2003-05-29T02:37:22Z")
Quickie [suturing](http://www.fensende.com/Users/swnymph/refs/glue.html) was one of the first uses for “super glue.” Looks like 1956 was its first use for “super glue” cyanoacrylate adhesives in suturing, and the US Army was all over it in 1966 and started using it in Vietnam. ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-real-band-aids-is-there-anything-wrong-with-this-duct-tape-question/178085/15 "2003-05-29T02:50:49Z")
At work (paper cuts and staple leg jags) I often use a bit of kleenex or napkin with some scotch tape.