Removing a patch can be painful. Each person has their own pain threshold and there is no universally valid method to avoid experiencing pain. The amount of hair present, the type of patch, how long it has been on the skin and how the wound has healed are all factors that determine how you will feel when you remove it. All of the techniques described in this tutorial can be put into practice with some commonly found home material and a little patience.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Quick Tear
Step 1. Wash your hands with soap and water
Your hands should always be clean when you touch the area around a patch to avoid the spread of bacteria and infections.
- Use tap water to wet your hands, both cold and warm are fine.
- Turn off the tap and apply the soap.
- Rub your hands together to create a layer of foam that must cover the back, the area between the fingers and under the nails.
- Continue scrubbing for 20 seconds. This is the time it takes to hum "Happy Birthday" twice in a row, from start to finish.
- You can now rinse your hands with tap water.
- Dry them with a clean cloth, kitchen paper, or an electric air hand towel.
- As an alternative to washing, you can use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Step 2. Clean the area around the patch
Just like the hands, the skin around the wound also needs to be cleaned to prevent infection or the spread of bacteria during the removal process.
- Fill a basin with tap water and mild liquid soap. The water can be hot or cold, although hot (not hot) water is more pleasant.
- Dip a clean cloth in the soapy water and wring it out to get rid of excess liquid.
- Gently wash the skin on and around the patch using the cloth. Do not apply direct pressure to the dressing during this operation. Limit yourself to a quick pass.
- Finally, pat gently with a clean, dry towel.
Step 3. Lift one end of the adhesive to create a kind of tab
This allows you to have more grip and control over the patch during removal.
Step 4. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and hold your breath as you count to three
Paying attention to your breathing sends a signal to your body to release stress as you prepare to tear off the patch.
Step 5. On three, exhale and peel off the adhesive as fast as you can
Contrary to what many people think, this rapid movement can be less painful for some people.
- If you exhale during the pull, you cause your body to relax rather than contract. The faster the movement, the sooner the pain will disappear.
- If your skin is very irritated, apply an ice cube or cold pack to the surrounding area to relieve discomfort.
Method 2 of 6: Slow Removal
Step 1. Wash your hands with soap and water
It is important to always keep your hands clean when touching the area around a patch, to avoid the spread of bacteria and the onset of infections.
- Use tap water to wet your hands, either cold or hot.
- Turn off the tap and apply the soap.
- Rub your hands together to create a layer of foam and cover the back, the area between the fingers and under the nails.
- Continue scrubbing for 20 seconds. This is the time needed to hum the song "Happy Birthday" from beginning to end twice in a row.
- Now you can rinse your hands with tap water.
- Dry them with a clean cloth, kitchen paper, or electric air hand towel.
- As an alternative to washing with water, you can use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Step 2. Clean the area around the patch
Just like your hands, the skin around the wound also needs to be cleaned to avoid infection or the spread of bacteria when you remove the patch.
- Fill a basin with tap water and mild liquid soap. The water can be hot or cold, although hot (not hot) water is more pleasant.
- Dip a clean cloth in the soapy water and wring it out to get rid of excess liquid.
- Gently wash the skin on and around the patch using the cloth. Do not apply direct pressure to the dressing during this operation. Limit yourself to a quick pass.
- Finally, pat gently with a clean, dry towel.
Step 3. Peel off one corner of the patch a little at a time
It's important to work slowly and don't expect to peel off a lot of glue at a time. The smaller the patch surface you peel off, the less pain will be.
- If the patch is on a hairy area of the body, it should be more comfortable to remove it slowly.
- You can insert a fingernail under the edge of the patch to loosen the grip of the adhesive on the skin.
Step 4. Gradually, peel off another small piece of adhesive; then rest and repeat the procedure until the whole patch has come off
You may feel like the procedure goes on forever, but to keep the pain to a minimum, you need to act slowly.
- Take breaks whenever you feel the need. This reduces the pain reflex.
- This method requires a lot of extra patience, but you continue slowly and surely.
- The number of times you need to repeat these steps depends on the size of the patch and how much adhesive you are able to peel off.
- Take your time and try to stay relaxed while you peel off the patch.
- Remember that if you start to get bored, you can always switch to the "quick wrench" method.
Method 3 of 6: Remove the Patch Parallel to the Skin
Step 1. Wash your hands with soap and water
Your hands should always be clean when touching the area around a patch to avoid the spread of bacteria and the onset of infections.
- Use tap water to wet your hands, both cold and warm are fine.
- Turn off the tap and apply the soap.
- Rub your hands together to create a layer of foam that must cover the back, the area between the fingers and under the nails.
- Continue scrubbing for 20 seconds. This is the time it takes to hum "Happy Birthday" twice in a row, from start to finish.
- At this point, rinse your hands with tap water.
- Dry them with a clean cloth, kitchen paper, or an electric air hand towel.
- Instead of washing them with water, you can use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Step 2. Clean the area around the patch
Just like the hands, the skin around the wound must also be cleaned to avoid the risk of infection or the spread of bacteria during the removal process.
- Fill a basin with tap water and mild liquid soap. The water can be hot or cold, although hot (not hot) water is more pleasant.
- Dip a clean cloth in the soapy water and wring it out to get rid of excess liquid.
- Gently wash the skin around and over the patch using the cloth. Do not apply direct pressure to the dressing during this operation. Limit yourself to a quick pass.
- Finally, pat gently with a clean, dry towel.
Step 3. Grab one edge of the patch while keeping a firm grip with your thumb and forefinger
This detail is essential to apply constant tension to the patch while respecting the correct inclination.
This is a particularly useful technique for waterproof patches
Step 4. Gently pull the bandage keeping it parallel to the skin as much as possible
In doing so, the adhesive peels off the skin instead of sticking to it.
- During this procedure it is normal for the patch to stretch a little.
- It may seem like a bit of an anomalous movement, but when you have learned how to do it you will find that the adhesive comes off the skin without difficulty.
Step 5. Maintain constant tension as you release it
This prevents the patch from sagging and adhering to the skin again.
- To detach the last stretch, you will need to pull harder and finish with a quick tug up and away from the skin.
- Try to move as "smooth and steady" as possible so that you don't get stuck with the last end of the patch on your skin.
- If you move according to this criterion, you will not prolong the pain.
- Alternatively, you can peel off the patch diagonally from the wound. Some people claim that this way they are able to better control the patch.
- The tingling sensation you get where the patch was will disappear shortly.
Method 4 of 6: Dissolve the Adhesive
Step 1. Wash your hands with soap and water
Make sure you always clean them when you touch the area around a patch to avoid spreading bacteria and developing infections.
- Use tap water and wet your hands, both cold and warm are fine.
- Turn off the tap and soap them.
- Rub your hands together to create a layer of foam that must cover the back, the area between the fingers and under the nails.
- Continue scrubbing for 20 seconds. This is the time it takes to hum the song "Happy Birthday" twice in a row, from start to finish.
- At this point you can always rinse your hands using tap water.
- Dry them with a clean cloth, kitchen paper, or electric air hand towel.
- Alternatively, you can use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Step 2. Clean the area around the patch
Just like your hands, the skin around the wound must also be clean to prevent the risk of infection or the spread of bacteria when you remove the patch.
- Fill a basin with tap water and mild liquid soap. You can choose to use hot or cold water, although hot (not hot) water is more pleasant.
- Dip a clean cloth in the soapy water and wring it out to get rid of excess liquid.
- Gently wash the skin on and around the patch using the cloth. Do not apply direct pressure to the dressing during this operation. Limit yourself to a quick pass.
- Finally, pat gently with a clean, dry towel.
Step 3. Soak a cotton ball in olive oil until it is completely impregnated
This is the most effective way to apply as much oil as possible to the sticky part of the patch.
- This will take 1-2 minutes, depending on the size of the wad.
- Remember to protect clothing and other nearby objects from any drops of oil.
- You can also use baby oil instead of olive oil.
- If you wish, you can choose to make a mixture of baby lotion and oil and apply it with a cotton swab. The results will be the same.
- If you don't have any oil on hand, you can soak the patch and surrounding area in a basin of warm water until the adhesive has dissolved. This method works best with fabric patches.
Step 4. Rub the swab over the sticky parts of the patch and let the oil soak into the material
The oil is able to dissolve some of the glue that adheres to the skin, so you can detach the bandage with minimal effort.
- The time required varies according to the size of the patch, the place on the body where it was applied and the strength of its glue.
- Make sure that the oil does not reach the cotton layer under the patch, so as not to irritate the wound.
Step 5. Remove the bandage slowly
This operation may be a little laborious, but completely painless. If it's still sticky, apply the oil for a few more minutes.
Method 5 of 6: Melt the Glue
Step 1. Wash your hands with soap and water
Your hands should always be clean when touching the area around a patch to avoid the spread of bacteria and infections.
- Use tap water to wet your hands, both cold and warm are fine.
- Turn off the tap and apply the soap.
- Rub your hands together to create a layer of foam that must cover the back, the area between the fingers and under the nails.
- Continue scrubbing for 20 seconds. This is the time it takes to hum "Happy Birthday" twice in a row, from start to finish.
- Now you can rinse your hands with tap water.
- Dry them with a clean cloth, kitchen paper, or electric air towel.
- Instead of water, you can use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Step 2. Clean the area around the patch
Just like the hands, the skin near the wound also needs to be cleaned, to avoid infection or the spread of bacteria during the removal process.
- Fill a basin with tap water and mild liquid soap. You can choose either hot or cold water, although hot (not hot) water is more pleasant.
- Dip a clean cloth in the soapy water and wring it out to get rid of excess liquid.
- Gently wash the skin around and over the patch using the cloth. Do not apply direct pressure to the dressing during this operation. Limit yourself to a quick pass.
- Finally, pat gently with a clean, dry towel.
Step 3. Set the hair dryer to the lowest temperature
The heat softens the sticky side of the patch and should make it easier to remove.
If you use the hair dryer at a high temperature, you run the risk of getting burned
Step 4. Direct the flow of air over the patch by moving it continuously
This allows you to loosen the glue evenly and minimize the discomfort caused by the heat on the skin.
Step 5. Test to see if the adhesive is ready to peel off
The time it takes to completely remove the patch depends on the width of the adhesive part and the strength of the glue.
- The simplest method is to stick a fingernail under the edge of the patch and pry it up.
- If it's not time to detach it yet, continue applying heat with the hair dryer.
- Particularly hairy areas require a shorter application time than smooth ones, from which the patch comes off more easily.
Step 6. Repeat this procedure until all of the sticky part of the patch has loosened enough to come off
You should feel minimal resistance as you lift it. If not, be patient and keep warming the area.
Method 6 of 6: Freeze the Adhesive
Step 1. Wash your hands with soap and water
They should always be clean when you touch the area around a patch to prevent the spread of bacteria and the onset of infections.
- Use tap water to wet your hands, both cold and warm are fine.
- Turn off the tap and apply the soap.
- Rub your hands together and create a layer of foam that must cover the back, the area between the fingers and under the nails.
- Continue scrubbing for 20 seconds. This is the time it takes to hum "Happy Birthday" twice in a row, from start to finish.
- At this point you can rinse your hands with tap water.
- Dry them with a clean cloth, kitchen paper, or electric air hand towel.
- If you don't wash them with water, you can use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Step 2. Clean the area around the patch
Just like your hands, the skin around the wound also needs to be cleaned to prevent infection or the spread of bacteria when you remove the patch.
- Fill a basin with tap water and mild liquid soap. You can choose to use hot or cold water, although hot (not hot) water is more pleasant.
- Dip a clean cloth in the soapy water and wring it out to get rid of excess liquid.
- Gently wash the skin around and over the patch using the cloth. Do not apply direct pressure to the dressing during this operation. Limit yourself to a quick pass.
- Finally, pat gently with a clean, dry towel.
Step 3. Make an ice pack by wrapping several cubes in a paper towel or thin cloth
Choose a material that is not too thick and does not block the cold.
Do not use gel packs as they cannot cool the adhesive sufficiently
Step 4. Place the compress on the sticky side of the patch
The ice makes the glue brittle, making it easier to remove it.
The time it takes for this to happen depends on the strength of the adhesive and the size of the patch
Step 5. Test to see if the patch comes off by lifting a corner
If it doesn't lift easily, keep applying ice. Repeat the process until all the adhesive bandage has come off.
Insert a fingernail under the edge of the patch and try to pry it up, this should make it easier to lift it
Warnings
- Be very careful if the sticky part has come into contact with the wound. You must avoid reopening it or causing worse damage.
- If you choose to use a heat method, always set the temperature to medium and not very high.
- When using oils and lotions, remember to protect surrounding clothing and furniture.
