Putting on a clean patch is essential for taking care of nicks and scratches in a hygienic way. However, taking it off isn't always pleasant. However, you should not avoid using it because you are afraid of removing it. Instead, try one of the following methods to make the procedure less painful (or painless).
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Weaken the Adhesive of the Patch
Step 1. Wet the patch
You've probably also had the misfortune of seeing patches used in public swimming pools, so you know that exposure to water weakens the adhesive.
- No, you don't have to go to the pool. Soak in the bathtub, then try removing the patch. A long shower is also effective.
- You can also apply a wet towel (or a clean cloth dipped in warm water) to the patch and wait for the water to soak inside.
Step 2. Use oils or soaps to weaken and lubricate the adhesive
Some of the most effective products are olive oil, petroleum jelly, mild shampoos, and baby oil, but there are many others. However, the process is similar. Try different products to figure out which one is best suited for your specific case.
- Massage the product onto the sticky parts of the patch using a cotton swab, cotton swab or finger. Work it up and let it soak these parts of the patch well.
- Peel off one corner of the patch to see if the adhesive has weakened. If not, keep massaging the oil or soap.
- If it has weakened, peel off the rest of the patch with one quick motion. If necessary, gently press the surrounding skin with your other hand before proceeding with the removal.
- A trick for kids: mix some food coloring with the oil, so you can "paint" the solution onto the patch with cotton buds. Try to make it a fun experience, without any fear.
Step 3. Particularly sticky patches need to be lubricated even more
Instead of trying to peel off a stubborn patch right away, weaken the adhesive as described above. Lift one edge, then apply moisturizer to the contact point between the skin and the patch as you continue to slowly peel it off.
Step 4. Dissolve the adhesive with alcohol
Use the same technique as outlined above, but choose isopropyl alcohol or, in small amounts, an alcoholic beverage (such as vodka). The adhesive should gradually dissolve. Any glue residue on the skin can be wiped off with the same cotton swab or alcohol-soaked cotton swab you used for the procedure.
- An old article from 1923, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, enhances the properties of ethyl acetate (found in nail polish removers) to remove patches, but warns that it has a rather pungent odor, but luckily it dissipates. immediately.
- There are also solvents for medical adhesives. You can find them in pharmacies or on the internet.
Step 5. Try using heat
Some people peel off the patches by melting the adhesive with a hair dryer. Set it to the highest temperature, let it blow evenly across the patch for 10-15 seconds, then check that the adhesive has softened.
This method is effective, but the tearing pain will likely be replaced by the discomfort of the hot air emitted by the hair dryer on the skin. You will hardly get burned, but it won't be painless. It is not recommended for children
Method 2 of 2: Put a Band-Aid Well
Step 1. Do not avoid putting on a patch as long as you do not take it off
Today, tips from other times still circulate. For example, it is believed that it is best to clean a small cut, let it air and allow a scab to form. However, just like the advice to apply butter on a burn or tilt your head back when a nose bleeds, this is also false.
- Small wounds actually heal best in a moist environment, where blood vessels regenerate faster and the cells responsible for inflammation multiply more slowly. Hence, preventing scab formation can aid in the healing process.
- Of course, it is convenient for patch brands to suggest covering cuts and scrapes rather than letting them get air, but they have science on their side.
Step 2. Before applying the patch, prepare the wound properly
When you have to remove a patch, often the worst time is not the actual tear. The problem is dry blood or scab being peeled off with the adhesive, reopening the wound. However, with proper preparation, it is less likely to happen.
- Stop bleeding from a small cut or scratch by applying good pressure with gauze, a napkin, a clean cloth, and so on. You need to press gently for 15 minutes, until it stops bleeding.
- If the wound is large, excessively soiled, or that won't stop bleeding, see a doctor.
- Wash the affected area with soap and water. Rinse and pat dry with a delicate cloth. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or other products mistakenly considered effective: water and neutral soap are enough.
Step 3. Try to moisturize the wound to avoid having problems removing the patch
Antibiotic ointments have not been confirmed to accelerate wound healing, but they keep them hydrated and make it easier to remove the patch.
- That said, classic petroleum jelly has the same moisturizing / lubricating properties.
- Tap a small amount only on the wound itself, so that the patch sticks to the right places.
Step 4. Cover the wound with a band-aid
Choose one that is large enough so that the pad (the gauze piece) covers the entire wound, with little excess space. To reduce the risk of infection, try not to touch the pad during application.
- Especially when wrapping a patch around a finger (or a larger bandage around an arm or leg), tighten it tightly enough to secure it and prevent gaps from forming between the pad and the wound. However, it must not be so tight as to block circulation. If your fingers tingle or they turn purple, it's too tight.
- If the patch gets soaked with water or gets dirty, apply a new one.
Step 5. If necessary, use the razor
If you need to put a patch on an area covered with hair (an arm, leg, chest or back), you should shave first to prevent the adhesive from sticking to the hair and making removal painful.
- Use lukewarm water and a new, clean razor. Do not pass it on the wound itself.
- Before resorting to this method, you should try other procedures, unless you want to find yourself with patchy hairless spots in the wound area.
Step 6. Trust the medicine
Removing a patch isn't just a nuisance. Each year, in the United States alone, one and a half million people (mostly children and the elderly with sensitive skin) suffer from scarring or irritation after removing a patch. In any case, the most innovative ones have been developed with an additional layer (placed between the plasticized part and the soluble adhesive) that facilitates tearing.
