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.
First Aid Care: Taking Care of Cuts
COVID-19
None of our BAND-AID® Brand adhesive bandages have been tested or designed for protection against viruses such as COVID-19, but it’s still important to keep your injury covered. If your bandage comes off earlier due to frequent hand washing, we recommend putting on a new one until the injury is healed.
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.
No, BAND-AID® Brand INFECTION DEFENSE® Bandages with NEOSPORIN® are not tested or designed for protection against viruses such as COVID-19. They have been designed to help prevent infection of minor wounds from bacteria only.
Our Products
The majority of our products and packaging are not made with natural rubber latex.
These products are some of our exclusions, but always be sure to check your labels:
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.
Most BAND-AID® Brand bandages and first aid products do not contain expiration dates, but we always recommend you double check your packaging.
You can find expiration dates on our products that contain active ingredients. Some of these include:
Our packaging has been updated to make it easier to find the products you love! Check out our products to view your box’s new look.
First Aid Care: Taking Care of Cuts
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!
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.
A cut that is not clean has a greater chance of getting infected. Cleaning your cut is important to the healing process as it helps remove the dirt and germs that could cause infection. We recommend BAND-AID® Brand Antiseptic Wash*, which helps to kill germs and can help temporarily relieve the pain and discomfort of your cut or scrape.
Applying a thin layer of an antibiotic ointment such as NEOSPORIN® will help keep the cut moist and help prevent scarring1. Apply an amount equal to the tip of a finger, 1 to 3 times daily.
Want to know more about the #1 doctor recommended brand of topical antibiotic in the U.S.? Head to neosporin.com to learn more.
Changing your bandage for a fresh one after cleaning a wound is essential for the healing process. If you’re especially active or are carrying out activities such as gardening, change your bandage daily, when it gets wet, or more often as needed – being sure to use clean hands.
Read our follow up care page to learn more about how to care for a wound as it heals.
First Aid Care: Wound Cleaning and Covering
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.
You should remove your BAND-AID® Brand adhesive bandage at least once daily to cleanse your wound2. When you’ve finished, you can put on a fresh bandage2.
With more complicated wounds, your healthcare provider may advise you to wash the wound out two to three times a day to help avoid infection1.
Find out more about cleaning wounds by reading about Follow Up Care.
You should keep your wound covered until it is fully healed. Uncovering it before runs the risk of scabbing and re-injury, both of which may delay healing and increase scarring. If you have concerns about infection or a slow healing wound, speak to your doctor.
Get details on how and why to cover your cuts.
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.
You should keep your wound covered with fresh bandages until it has fully healed. Keeping the wound protected with BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages and treated with NEOSPORIN® reduces the risk of scabs and scarring3.
You should talk to a doctor if symptoms get worse, or there is no improvement within 30 days2. Find out more about covering wounds as they heal.
No. It’s usually best to avoid this, as wounds need moisture to heal4. If you leave a wound uncovered, you risk drying out new surface cells, which can slow healing and increase pain4. You also have a greater risk of infection.
Learn more about Follow Up Care.
Clean the wound as instructed above
Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment, such as NEOSPORIN®
Place a clean BAND-AID® Brand adhesive bandage or gauze on the wound, following the instructions on the packaging
Wash your hands when finished5
Throw away your old dressing5
You can find more information on how to dress a wound here.
Soak the bandage in water, in a sink or bath, or with a wet compress
Use soap to weaken the adhesive on the dressing
If the dressing is stubborn, consider peeling up a corner and applying moisturizer as you pull it away
First Aid Care: Wound Healing and Infections
Like cuts, the more severe the burn, the longer it will generally take to heal. To help burns heal quicker, we recommend a thin layer of NEOSPORIN® + Burn Relief Antibiotic ointment before covering it with your favorite BAND-AID® Brand bandage!
Scabs are simply your body’s way of protecting a wound from germs while new skin is growing underneath. So, if minor cuts and scrapes form a scab, it’s best to let it heal on its own. Usually, they heal in a few days.
Try not to scratch and pick at your scab, as that can make the healing process take longer. If you keep the affected area moist with NEOSPORIN® + Pain, Itch, Scar, this may help reduce the urge to scratch.
Learn all about how to heal scabs fast.
Keeping a wound moist with NEOSPORIN® antibiotic ointment, and covered with a fresh BAND-AID® Brand adhesive bandage or gauze daily, can help minor wounds heal.
To learn how to heal wounds fast in more detail, check out our article.
If you notice any of the following near the wound, it could be a sign of infection.
Redness5
Increasing pain5
Bleeding5
Thick, tan, green or yellow drainage5
Warmth1
Swelling5
Fever – a temperature of 100 °F or higher5
Read our advice to find out more about how to tell if a wound is healing or infected.
If you think your wound has become infected, you should seek help from a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Check out more advice on how to prevent and treat infections.
You should seek help from a doctor or other healthcare professional if:
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.