This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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If you have a small, shallow cut that you want to close, use butterfly bandages. Once you've decided that you don't need stitches, clean the wound with cool water. Place a butterfly bandage across the cut so it's sealed shut. Secure the bandage by putting another butterfly bandage above and below the main one. Then lay 2 more butterfly bandages vertically next to the cut.
Steps
Cleaning the Wound
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1Rinse the cut with cool water. Take a cup full of cool water and pour it slowly over the injury. You can also place the cut under cool, running water. This will flush out any dirt or debris.[1]
- Avoid pouring antiseptics or hydrogen peroxide over the cut. These harsh cleansers can actually irritate the injury.
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2Wash the skin around the wound. Gently rub soapy water on the skin surrounding the cut. Ensure that soapy water doesn't run into the cut. Then rinse the soapy water away with cool water and pat it dry with a clean cloth.[2]
- The butterfly bandage will stay in place better if it's secured to clean, dry skin.
- If you have some, apply a dab of antibiotic ointment onto the wound. This will speed up the healing process and prevent infection.
Putting a Butterfly Bandage on the Wound
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1Hold the wound shut with your fingers. Use your non-dominant hand to line up the edges of the cut. Bring the edges together using your thumb and index finger. Keep pressing the cut to keep the wound closed.[3]
Don't push down hard while you're lining up the cut or you could make it start bleeding again.
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2Set half of the bandage on 1 side and pull it to the other side of the cut. Take the butterfly bandage and remove the backing to reveal the adhesive. Press 1 half of the bandage on a side of the cut. Then bring the other half across the cut and press down on the bandage.[4]
- Never apply a butterfly bandage lengthwise along the cut. It needs to cross the cut so the wound edges are closed or almost closed.[5]
Securing the Wound
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1Apply 1 more butterfly bandage above and below the cut. To encourage healing and keep the cut closed, open another butterfly bandage and put it directly above the main bandage you just applied. Open another butterfly bandage and put it directly below the main bandage.[6]
These will distribute the tension across your skin so the main bandage isn't being pulled.
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2Put 2 butterfly bandages vertically across the bandages. Open 2 more butterfly bandages and place 1 vertically to 1 side of the cut. Then put the other butterfly bandage vertically on the other side of the cut.[7]
- Placing vertical bandages will hold the 3 butterfly bandages in place.
- You don't need to put a protective covering over the butterfly bandages since this will secure them.
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3Leave the butterfly bandage on until it falls off. After several days the butterfly bandage should start to curl up and peel away from the skin. It's fine if the strips fall off because it means that the cut is healing.
- Be sure to keep the area clean. Also, avoid picking at the butterfly bandage or you could accidentally open the wound.
Assessing the Wound
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1Apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Press a clean cloth or towel against the injury for up to 5 minutes. If it's a minor cut, the bleeding should stop. If the cut is more serious and continues to bleed after applying pressure for 10 to 15 minutes, you'll need to get medical attention.[8]
- If you can't slow the bleeding, go to an urgent care center or emergency room.
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2Inspect the wound to see what type of injury it is. Look at the injury to see if it's a cut, if the skin's been torn, or if the skin's been scraped. Butterfly bandages are useful for holding together shallow cuts with clean edges. If you see torn skin that's jagged, it will probably need stitches.[9]
- Butterfly bandages aren't effective at covering abrasions. If you see scraped skin, apply a large or liquid bandage.
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3Determine how deep and long the cut is. Use a butterfly bandage if the cut is less than 1/4 in (6 mm) deep and less than 3/4 in (19 mm) long. If the cut is longer or deeper than this, it will need stitches.[10]
- If you can see muscle or fat, the cut will need stitches in order to heal properly.
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4Avoid using a butterfly bandage on animal bites or joints. Get medical attention if the injury was caused by an animal bite or if there's dirt embedded in the skin.[11] You should also avoid using butterfly bandages on cuts that are on joints such as elbows or knees because the bandage won't be able to hold the skin in place.
- Don't use butterfly bandages on skin that's oily or hairy since the bandage will have trouble staying in place.
Warnings
- If you see bleeding after you've applied the butterfly bandage, the cut probably needs stitches.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Wash your hands thoroughly before addressing your wound.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Clean cloth
- Mild soap
- Butterfly bandages
References
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cuts/basics/art-20056711
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cuts/basics/art-20056711
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/what-are-butterfly-stitches
- ↑ https://thrive.kaiserpermanente.org/care-near-you/northern-california/santarosa/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/10/Cuts-to-the-skin_tcm28-489816.pdf
- ↑ https://www.mottchildren.org/health-library/tp22233spec
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/what-are-butterfly-stitches
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/what-are-butterfly-stitches
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cuts/basics/art-20056711
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000043.htm
About This Article
If you have a small, shallow cut, you can apply a butterfly bandage to close it and protect it from the elements. Before you apply your bandage, rinse the cut with cool, running water to clean out any dirt or debris. Then, wash around the cut with soap, rinse it off, and pat it dry with a clean cloth. Once you’ve cleaned around the wound, remove the adhesive backing from 3 butterfly bandages. Hold your cut closed with your non-dominant hand and stick the bandage across the middle of the cut so it forms a cross shape. Add the other 2 bandages above and below the first one so they’re parallel with it. Leave your bandages on until they naturally fall off a few days later. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to stop a cut bleeding, read on.
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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