Superglue is a useful little helper in everyday life. However, it is not uncommon for fingers or other areas of skin to accidentally get the strong glue off in addition to the intended things. This is certainly disturbing and annoying at first, but no reason to panic. After all, there are various ways and means to remove superglue (residue) from the skin. We present the most effective tricks in this article.
Tricks and lifehacks that make life easier wanted? Here you go!
Warning: you should never try to pull the adhesive from the skin by force. Doing so can detach parts of the skin with it and cause injury. Especially in the case of adhesions on the eye, this should not be opened with force. Instead, doctors advise rinsing the affected area with water as quickly as possible and covering it with a moist compress. A visit to the doctor is unavoidable in this case, as he or she can advance the detachment process with rinsing solutions and prevent further injury to the eye.
According to the Swiss poison information center Tox Info Suisse, the ingredients of superglue now pose no direct danger to the skin. The hardened glue normally falls off automatically after two to three days as part of the normal skin renewal process. If your fingers are stuck together, however, you can try the following home remedies to speed up the removal process.
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Nail polish remover
The acetone contained in nail polish remover acts as a solvent. You can use the nail polish remover on both surfaces and skin to remove superglue. However, if you have sensitive skin, you should resort to another method, as the chemical composition of this agent can cause skin irritation.
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Vinegar
Less irritating to the skin, but still effective, vinegar is said to work against adhesive residues. To do this, dip your finger in the liquid for about 15 minutes. After that, you can simply peel off the glue. If you want to remove the glue from other parts of the skin, you can apply the vinegar with a cotton pad and then wash it off with soapy water.
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Freezing
A popular trick is to remove glue residues on clothes by freezing them and then peeling off the glue.
Caution: You should never use the “cold trick” on your skin, but always use lukewarm water. Otherwise there is a risk of cold burn on the skin!
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Heat
However, the other extreme also works on the skin: you can use a hairdryer to soften dried glue again. With this method, however, you should be careful not to set the hairdryer too hot and only pull your fingers apart very slowly to prevent injury.
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Salt
A paste of salt and water is a great way to rub adhesive residue off the skin. If you wash off the salt afterwards with lukewarm water and soap, the glue should come off more easily. This “peeling” is also suitable for use on insensitive textiles before putting them in the washing machine.
Tip: No matter which method you use: You should definitely take care of your skin afterwards to avoid unsightly irritation or injury.
