Therapeutic options for removing superglues from the skin

Cyanoacrylate is an adhesive used as a component in most of “super glues”. It can cause thermal burns if in contact with wool or cotton fabric. Nevertheless, in contact with intact skin it can cause contact or allergic dermatitis, but no thermal burns have been described.

Clinical case: 8-year-old girl who had suffered an accidental fall of one of these glues directly on one of her hands and both lower extremities, and who had remained with the glue in contact with the skin for 3 hours. On examination we observed erythema on several regions underlying the glue, without blisters, wounds or bleeding. The glue was removed with warm water and detergent. No open wounds or burns were noticed.

Conclusions: There are different ways to remove adhesives from the skin. Choosing the correct therapeutic option is determined, among other factors, by the presence of skin lesions under the adhesive. The use of acetone is contraindicated in injured skin because it can worsen the irritation. The delay in the removal of the adhesive can influence the success of the treatment and the type of treatment to be applied.