How to clean bandage adhesive from skin

Removing a sticky bandage can be cumbersome and even painful. It can get messy because some bandage adhesive is extremely strong and leaves behind unpleasant bandage adhesive. The sticky glue not just looks bad on the skin but may also irritate the skin – a big cause of concern for those with sensitive skin. 

So how do you remove bandage adhesive painlessly from the skin? You don’t need to head to a specialist to get that done. We have listed the three most effective ways of removing bandage adhesive from the skin that use your home ingredients to get a clean, spotless surface:

• Use cooking oil

Some adhesives dissolve in oil, so applying a few drops of cooking oil can help in removing surgical paper tape adhesive from the skin. You don’t need to drench the area with oil; just coat it lightly so that oil finds its way between the adhesive and the skin. 

 Once the adhesive is removed, wash the area with a moistened cloth to remove any excess oil from the skin.

• Dab nail polish remover

Chemical solvent (acetone) present in the nail polish remover makes it very effective in removing glue and adhesive from bandages and paper medical tapes. So if you have a nail polish remover at home, make the most of it to remove the adhesive. The acetone may cause irritation or drying of the skin, so apply it with precaution and avoid using it on sensitive areas of the skin. Since it is highly flammable do not use it in combination with heat. Keep an eye out for the label of your nail polish remover. 

• Smear some petroleum jelly:

For sensitive areas of the skin like near lips and ears, petroleum jelly works the best. Just smear a thin layer of jelly on the affected area, let it sit for some time and then rub it off to remove the residue from the surface. Once the adhesive is removed, wipe the area with a damp cloth or paper towel. Removing bandage adhesive may seem tough, and may look like that it needs abrasive methods to keep clean. But with the home ingredients mentioned above and the right pressure, you can easily clean the adhesive without any fuss.