How to Take a Band-Aid Off Painlessly

Sometimes removing a Band-Aid is the most painful part of an injury. Band-Aids prevent an open wound from being exposed to further damage or infection. However, the longer a Band-Aid stays on your skin, the tougher it is to remove, especially if the area is hairy. Removing a Band-Aid does not have to be a painful experience, and can be made easier using water or baby oil.

Things You'll Need

• Lukewarm water
• Baby oil (optional)
• Towel

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Instructions

• 1

  Soak the part of your body with a Band-Aid on it in lukewarm water until the edges of the Band-Aid start to separate from your skin. Alternatively, pour water over the part of the body where the Band-Aid is located until the edges of the Band-Aid start to separate from your skin.

• 2

  Add a drop of baby oil to the skin along the edge of the Band-Aid and rub it into the skin and bandage to loosen the adhesive. Continue this until the Band-Aid starts to slide off the skin.

• 3

  Gently pull the Band-Aid or bandage off the skin. If the adhesive is connected to arm or leg hair, pull in the direction that your hair grows. If removing the Band-Aid starts to hurt, apply more water or baby oil to the bandage, rub it in, then continue pulling the bandage off. This can sometimes take time if the bandage is large or has been in one place for an extended period of time.

• 4

  Reapply water or baby oil to the skin if any adhesive remains on the skin. Rub the water or baby oil off with fingers or a towel.

• 5

  Dry your skin with a towel after all of the adhesive is removed.