Gluesticks

Does super glue work the same as stiches?

I recently cut my finger opening a can while holding a hand mixer....long story. Anyway, I went to the dr. when the bleeding wouldn't stop, and ended up having to get 3 stiches. When I spoke to my dad later that night he said I should have just used super glue. Is it the same thing? It was also a dirty cut bc of the fact that I was working with eggs, and I had to get a tetinus shot as well....so I still needed to go to the dr. But I was just curious for future knowledge.

Public Comments

1. DO NOT use regular Krazy Glue. There is a medical grade adhesive called Derma Bond but it's only for shallower cuts and in places where the skin doesn't flex. Skin sutures are much stronger.
2. Super glue works great.. Just clean out your cut real well before you put the superglue on it and you can use butterfly bandages until the glue is fully dried. It is a lot cheaper for people who don't have insurance, plus you don't have to wait around in the hospital or doctors office.
3. I really don't know but I would not use it. There is a product called STERI STRIPS that I keep in the house that is like a tape and is even used by hospitals.
4. There is a skin glue called dermabond that doctors and hospitals use and it is similar to super glue. The problem with super glue is that it has some ingredients that are not good for you. I was told once it can be cytotoxic ( but I am not sure about this I have never done any actual research on it ) But I was also told that super glue was originally intended for use in the field during combat when stitches could not be possible, it is not used that way for a reason I am sure. All of that being said I can tell you that my Grandfather has often used it for cuts and he is 85 yrs old now... But I wouldn't recommend it. Get some dermabond from a doctor
5. for minor injuries, you can use superglue strangely enough. my brother used to do it. there is actually a liquid bandage that was designed to work the same as superglue (albeit more likely to be sterile than superglue). however, the bleeding would have to be slow enough that the liquid bandage could be applied and have a few seconds to dry. also keep in mind that it stings like the dickens!
6. No 1. super glue is not sterile and you may infect the wound 2. your body may not be able to repair the wound efficiently 3. toxic components in the glue would enter your blood stream 4. superglue is meant for objects not for people !
7. I am no doctor and I might just be talking out of context but I believe some of the Super-glues have some possible poisonous substances in them....I know there are some over the counter substances they use instead of band-aids but I am not too sure on the super glue stuff read the warnings first