How to Keep Bandages From Sticking

While a bandage may be necessary for some cuts and scrapes, to keep dirt and other foreign objects out, few things are as painful and uncomfortable as trying to remove a bandage that sticks to the wound or the skin surrounding it. Fortunately, properly preparing the wound and surrounding skin can prevent a bandage from sticking. All that is needed is to properly prepare the wound is antibiotic ointment and plenty of soap and water.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Antibiotic ointment
• Bandage

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Instructions

• 1

  Clean the wound with liberal amounts of soap and cold water. Ensure that no debris remains in the wound and that any damaged or dead skin is removed. If the wound was previously bandaged, remove any remaining pieces of the old bandage.

• 2

  Apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment to the wound and the surrounding skin. In addition to preventing the bandage from sticking, the antibiotic ointment will prevent infection and help to prevent subsequent scarring. Take care to not apply too much ointment as this will cause the bandage to slide off the wound prematurely.

• 3

  Cover the wound with an appropriate bandage. Ensure that the bandage is the correct size for the wound and that it is not applied too tightly. Inspect the bandage frequently and replace it when it becomes worn or dirty.