FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you want to know how often to clean a wound, how to get rid of scabs or when to seek medical help, you’ll find the answers to all your BAND-AID® Brand questions here.

COVID-19

Our Products

First Aid Care: Taking Care of Cuts

First Aid Care: Wound Cleaning and Covering

First Aid Care: Wound Healing and Infections

COVID-19

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QA Question:

What bandages do you recommend using on my hand considering I need to wash frequently due to COVID-19?

QA Question:

Do BAND-AID® Brand Antiseptic Washes & Sprays prevent against COVID-19? Or can they be used as sanitizers?

No. BAND-AID® Brand Antiseptic Washes & Sprays has not been tested or formulated to prevent against COVID-19 or any other virus, and neither have NEOSPORIN® antiseptic sprays.

They are also not recommended nor would they be beneficial for use as a hand sanitizer or a surface disinfectant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol for protection against viruses. Our antiseptic spray and wash products are formulated to help clean your wounds and protect them against infection from bacteria, not viruses.

QA Question:

Do BAND-AID® Brand INFECTION DEFENSE® Bandages with NEOSPORIN® protect against COVID-19?

Our Products

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QA Question:

Do BAND-AID® Brand products and/or packaging contain latex?

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How do I select the right BAND-AID® Brand bandage?

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How do I use BAND-AID® Brand HYDRO SEAL® products?

BAND-AID® Brand HYDRO SEAL® bandages provide an optimal healing environment. Here are four quick steps to properly use them:

Stop any bleeding and clean your wound with an antiseptic wash and dry it completely.
To ensure the bandage sticks properly, don’t apply any creams, ointments, or lotions to the wound. That’s right, no antibiotic ointments necessary!
Carefully remove the white paper tabs and apply the bandage directly to the wound.
Within 24 hours of application, the product will begin to swell and a white bubble will appear over the wound. This signals your body's natural healing process has begun.

We highly recommend no peeking! HYDRO SEAL® products are designed to deliver multi-day protection, so you can wear it until it begins to detach.

QA Question:

Do BAND-AID® Brand adhesive bandages expire?

QA Question:

Have you changed your packaging?

First Aid Care: Taking Care of Cuts

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QA Question:

How long does it take a cut to heal?

No two bodies or wounds are the same, so cut healing times vary. However, deeper cuts do typically take longer to heal. Remember, too, wounds that are allowed to scab take longer to heal since healthy cells have a difficult time closing the gap around the dried, crusty cells of a scab.

To help heal wounds fast, keep your wound moist and covered with your favorite BAND-AID® Brand bandage!

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How can I prevent a cut from scarring?

It’s not always possible to prevent an injury that could cause scarring. However, you can reduce the risk of your wound turning into a scar.

See a healthcare provider – some wounds may need stitching or special bandages, to hold the skin together until it can properly heal³
Keep the wound clean – as instructed above, wash around the area of the wound with soap and water³ or use an antiseptic wash to clean the wound
Keep it moist – using NEOSPORIN® antibiotic ointment can help prevent the wound from becoming too dry and developing a scab³
Protect the wound – using BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages - the number-one doctor-recommended first aid brand helps protect wounds while they heal and stop them from drying out

Find out more about how to prevent scars here.

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What happens if I don’t clean my cut?

QA Question:

Should I put antibiotic ointment on a cut and for how long?

QA Question:

How long should you keep a BAND-AID® Brand adhesive bandage on a cut?

First Aid Care: Wound Cleaning and Covering

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QA Question:

What are the steps for cleaning a wound?

Follow these steps to clean a minor wound:

Rinse the wound under water to reduce the risk of getting an infection¹
Wash the area with soap but avoid getting any in the wound¹ or use an antiseptic wash to clean the wound
Remove any debris with tweezers – make sure you treat the wound with an antibiotic product, such as NEOSPORIN®¹
If you can’t remove all debris or the wound is more serious, you should see a medical professional for help¹

For more information on how to clean a wound, visit our Before You Bandage page.

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How often should you clean a wound?

QA Question:

How long should I keep my wound covered?

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What happens if I don’t keep my wound covered?

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How often should I change a bandage?

Keeping your bandage fresh and clean is an important part of the healing process. You should change your bandage daily especially if it gets dirty, wet, or compromised in any way. Be sure your hands are clean before changing a bandage, too. If you already have a scab, still cover it up. This will reduce the chances of re-injury from tearing or scratching at the scab. Explore our collection of BAND-AID® Brand bandages to see which product best fits your needs.

Get details on how and why to cover your cuts.

Understanding Bandaging

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Learn all about how to heal scabs fast.

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You think a wound is infected (check our list of symptoms above)
The wound is not healing properly or taking too long (more than 30 days²)
The wound looks darker, dried out or deeper⁵.

If you need to seek help quickly in an emergency, call your local emergency number (or 911) if:

You feel the condition is life-threatening (for example, a severe allergic reaction)
Your condition could become life-threatening while you travel to the hospital
You need a paramedic
Traffic conditions or long distances could cause a delay getting to hospital.

References:

¹ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cuts/basics/art-20056711

² https://health.clevelandclinic.org/handling-injuries-from-small-cuts-to-serious-wounds

³ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11030-scars

⁴ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/cover-wound-air

⁵ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19

What bandages do you recommend using on my hand considering I need to wash frequently due to COVID-19?

Do BAND-AID® Brand Antiseptic Washes & Sprays prevent against COVID-19? Or can they be used as sanitizers?

Do BAND-AID® Brand INFECTION DEFENSE® Bandages with NEOSPORIN® protect against COVID-19?

Our Products

Do BAND-AID® Brand products and/or packaging contain latex?

How do I select the right BAND-AID® Brand bandage?

How do I use BAND-AID® Brand HYDRO SEAL® products?

Do BAND-AID® Brand adhesive bandages expire?

Have you changed your packaging?

First Aid Care: Taking Care of Cuts

How long does it take a cut to heal?

How can I prevent a cut from scarring?

What happens if I don’t clean my cut?

Should I put antibiotic ointment on a cut and for how long?

How long should you keep a BAND-AID® Brand adhesive bandage on a cut?

First Aid Care: Wound Cleaning and Covering

What are the steps for cleaning a wound?

How often should you clean a wound?

How long should I keep my wound covered?

What happens if I don’t keep my wound covered?

How often should I change a bandage?

When is it time to stop covering a wound?

Should you air out a wound?

How to properly dress a wound?

How to remove a bandage or gauze stuck to a wound?

First Aid Care: Wound Healing and Infections

How long does it take for a burn to heal?

How can I get rid of a scab fast?

How can I help my wounds heal fast?

How can I tell if my wound is healing or infected?

What do I do if my wound has become infected?

When should I seek help from a medical professional?