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This article was co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.
There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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Even though you were careful when you used super glue, it somehow found a way to get stuck on your skin. First thing’s first: there’s no need to panic about the glue sticking to your skin forever. Whether it’s fresh or already dry, there are tons of pain-free ways to get super glue off using common household items. Keep reading to learn all the best ways to remove super glue quickly and safely. Just be sure to see to contact a doctor if you have an allergic reaction or get super glue in a sensitive spot, like your eyes or mouth.
Things You Should Know
- Try rubbing an oily or greasy product, like vegetable oil, petroleum jelly, or hand lotion, on the super glue.
- Apply acetone nail polish remover or lemon juice to eat through the super glue. Keep acetone and lemon juice away from sensitive areas.
- Soak the area in warm soapy water or with a warm compress for 10 minutes to soften and break apart the super glue.
- Use an abrasive, like coarse salt, an emery board, or a pumice stone to gently rub away residual dried glue. Stop using them if you feel any pain.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWill the nail polish remover make your skin dry?
Mark SpelmanMark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
Construction ProfessionalNail polish remover is drying for the skin. However, your skin will return to normal soon, especially if you apply a moisturising cream afterwards. -
QuestionIs super glue on your nails harmful?Mark SpelmanMark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
Construction ProfessionalIt is not harmful on your nails. You can use superglue to repair a broken nail. -
QuestionI got superglue on my arm, which has hair and I tried peeling it but now it really hurts whenever I try a method. How can I get it out without it hurting?Mark SpelmanMark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
Construction ProfessionalApply one of the products suggested to loosen the glue from your skin. Continue to apply the product until the glue comes off. If you are patient, the glue will eventually come off with the help of the product you chose.
Video
Reader Videos
Tips
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If the super glue isn’t causing pain or near your eyes or mouth, you can leave it alone. The glue will peel off within 1–2 days on its own.Thanks
Warnings
- Talk to a doctor right away if you get super glue on a sensitive part of your body, like your eyelids, nose, or lips, or if the super glue causes pain. Avoid trying to remove the glue on your own so you don’t hurt yourself.Thanks
- Avoid fumes from super glue since it could irritate your eyes and lungs.[11]Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about removing glue, check out our in-depth interview with Mohiba Tareen, MD.
References
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-super-glue-off-your-skin/
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/ae/en/in-the-home/how-to-remove-superglue-from-hands-a-handy-guide.html
- ↑ https://www.ontariopoisoncentre.ca/household-hazards-items/super-glue/
- ↑ https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/e/ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate.html
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-super-glue-off-your-skin
- ↑ https://missouripoisoncenter.org/is-this-a-poison/super-glue/
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/ae/en/in-the-home/how-to-remove-superglue-from-hands-a-handy-guide.html
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-super-glue-off-your-skin
- ↑ https://youtu.be/hYE1D7fcnFk?t=44
About This Article
To easily get super glue off skin, start by washing your hands with warm soapy water, which will help loosen the glue. Then, rub some vegetable oil or petroleum jelly into your skin with a cloth until the glue comes off. You can also use lotion. If the super glue still won't come off, apply an acetone-based nail polish remover to the super glue and then peel the glue off once it dissolves. If you want to learn how to use WD-40 to remove super glue, keep reading the article!
Reader Success Stories
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"When I was trying to put some glue on the sole of my shoe, it accidentally touched my fingers. Immediately, the affected area felt like a dry leather. As this was my first experience, I was worried and was about to call 911. Then I thought of checking online sources (using Dr. Google). That is how I came across this article. It helped me to calm down and to know what to do. Even if I could not completely clean the glue off my fingers, it helped me to reduce the harm."..." more
