Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Update: TBD revise review below for new info: Leaks into cap making it unusable -- 50% chance it arrives unusable (that's 5 unusable out of 10 ordered on 3 separate occasions from different sellers -- the fault is in the design of the bottle and cap and it makes this product UNACCEPTABLE). I am working with the 3M product group to report this problem so they are motivated to fix it to have a product that arrives usable and stays usable for the entire bottle (not as now, glueing itself shut after 2 or 3 uses due to leaking into cap when stored on its side). 3M is a brand I used to trust absolutely for quality. They really goofed on this one! Here are the exact ingredients: Ingredients: Vetbond Tissue Adhesive contains N-butyl cyanoacrylate (>98% by weight), Hydroquinone (<1 % by weight), and blue dye (.01% by weight). Too bad it's not thicker like the no-longer-sold Bandaid Liquid Bandage product that was discontinued for the published reason that lawsuits were occurring because kids were (accidentally) gluing "body parts" together. It seems to me the same liability would accrue to this product -- except it is advertised as being only for pets. So why can't they bring back the original product under a new name and say it is just for pets? It is much more effective and lasts much longer than "Nexcare Skin Crack Care". No contest. This is a real solution to skin cracks, not a one-day temporary covering. I have tried the similar products listed below and currently prefer Vetbond, a 3M product. Some other products to consider (none of these smell like acetone (unacceptable to me) or have any other obnoxious odor): => "Gluture" is 60% 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (and 40% N-butyl). I believe that 2-octyl is slightly preferable (more flexible) to N-butyl cyanoacrylate (which is all that Vetbond has). It claims to have a thickener, but it comes out of the tube/pipette runny. I find Gluture to be completely unacceptable because it is impossible to use (screw the top on or off, add pipette) without getting the superglue all over your hands and whatever is under the tube. Avoid for sure, but if you do try it, first see the note about Baby Oil below :-). -> "Surgi-Lock 2oc Instant Tissue Adhesive" is 100% 2-octyl cyanoacrylate. One problem is that screw top can get glued shut if you are not careful (Vetbond does not seem have this problem). It is more expensive and is just as runny as Vetbond. Vetbond can be applied without a pipette (an advantage over Surgi-Lock), though it is recommended to use a pipette. Update: This is now my recommended choice. The pipettes are a great idea, and can be used with this or Vetbond (when the top gets glued together you can still open the bottle and use a pipette). I would recommend Vetbond if they would realize the defective design of their bottle and just include a dozen pipettes (cost to them is a few cents per pipette). -> "Dermabond" is 100% 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and claims to be high viscosity. I find it too much harder to use (and an intial puzzle for how to use at all), considerably bigger (longer), and a several times more expensive than Vetbond. I believe doctors may use this on patients. Notes: I apply it once, let it dry (blow on it gently to speed that up) and then apply it another time to get the skin crack covered thickly enough. => To apply, use one of the included pipettes pushed onto the applicator tip (after snipping off the top of the applicator), since even 1 full drop is far too much to apply (the pipette allows applying less than a drop and with more precision). It can be used carefully without a pipette, but then be ready to blot the excess right away. I have done this several times without any problem. => Gently blot with a paper towel any excess liquid immediately that is not where you meant to apply it. => If you receive a damaged product (I received 2 out of 4 damaged in one order, 3 out of 6 in another order -- this failure rate out-of-box means the true cost is double the advertised price) where the applicator top comes off when you unscrew the twist off top (due to blue liquid leakage into the top which has hardened), then just trash it or return it and order a replacement. Otherwise you will have to use tweezers to unstick the applicator top from the twist off top every time you use it, with a big risk each time of spilling the superglue liquid from the open-top bottle or from the top itself when struggling to remove the stuck applicator top. How to remove cyanoacrylate glues: Use Baby Oil Gel whose main ingredient is mineral oil to remove Vetbond, Gluture, or Surgi-Lock as soon as possible after any spill on your skin. I have found that Vetbond and Surgi-Lock are runny enough that just blotting with a paper towel right away seems sufficient to remove it from your skin (Baby Oil Gel would be the next step cleaner if needed). From my couple of experiences trying to use Gluture without getting superglued hands (and failing each time), it seems that it sets faster and that mineral oil is more likely to be needed (act fast with a Gluture spill, which is almost inevitable when using that product). Cleaning spills summary: 1) Blot excess superglue on skin with paper towel. 2) If needed, use Baby Oil Gel (which is basically mineral oil) to dissolve the remaining superglue. 3) If that is insufficient, try using acetone if you can stand the odor (not sure whether it works). Detailed usage instructions from the web: ========================================================================================================================= Indications: Vetbond Tissue Adhesive is used to quickly and conveniently close minor wounds. Vetbond often eliminates the need for sutures or bandages. Creates a strong bond that polymerizes in seconds. Binds wound edges together to promote natural healing. Vetbond Tissue Adhesive is blue, making application easier to see. Ingredients: Vetbond Tissue Adhesive contains N-butyl cyanoacrylate (>98% by weight), Hydroquinone (<1 % by weight), and blue dye (.01% by weight). Dosage and Administration: Vetbond tissue adhesive must be at room temperature before use. Do not heat. To open: Remove bottle cap and cut off bottle tip, and place flexible applicator tip on bottle. Vetbond adhesive may be used between stainless steel staples, but application of adhesive on staples may interfere with staple removal. When finished, remove excess adhesive in vial tip by holding bottle upright and gently squeeze single drop of adhesive out of tip onto a paper towel. Wipe bottle tip with the same paper towel. Replace bottle cap. Expel adhesive from applicator tip by pushing air through it from a standard syringe. Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Maintain product at room temperature during use. Product can be refrigerated or frozen for extended shelf life before opening. Store bottle upright on shelf in a cool, dry place (away from heat). After opening, do not return bottle to the refrigerator. Caution: Avoid contact with skin and eyes. If in eyes, hold eyelids open and flush thoroughly with water. An ophthalmologist should be consulted. Use in well-ventilated area. Avoid breathing vapors over long periods of time. Avoid contact of adhesive with instruments, gloves and surgical instruments. Polymerized adhesive on instruments can be removed by soaking in acetone. Do not use: *if adhesive appears thicker than water at room temperature. Thickened product has partially polymerized and will not form an acceptable bond. * internally, on infected and/or deep puncture wounds, or below the epidermal layer. * in the presence of soaps, cotton products (gauze, cotton tipped applicators, etc.), basic substances (soaps, etc.) or polyurethane foam applicators. These materials may cause excessive exothermic (heat generating) reaction. ========================================================================================================================= 3M Micropore tape (bonus related review): Another product to consider applying (after putting on a thin layer of antibiotic ointment) to skin cuts which are not at the fingertips (though I've seen folks use it for fingertip cracks too) is "3M Micropore paper tape", also known as "3M Micropore surgical tape" because that's what surgeons have evidently been using since it was invented about a decade ago. A dozen or two small portable rolls of 10 yards(!) each are about $10, which will last you forever. I find the 1/2"wide to be the most used, but 1" or 2" wide rolls are also available. Several years ago this started to be sold in scotch-tape like dispensers at pharmacies, but you have to be careful to get the right kind (I still recommend buying the bulk product from amazon to ensure you don't get a stickier type of tape which is meant to hold other bandages on, rather than to directly be a second skin). I am astonished by its properties and it is superior for wound healing and infection prevention than other bandages. I was dubious at first, but 5 years of experience has proven this to be so. You can easily tear it by hand (no scissors needed!) to the length you want, you can put it on a wound in one layer or wrap it around a finger one or more times, and try to avoid going over knuckles which need to bend. It is "micropore", ie. it lets the wound breathe and evaporate water, and is waterproof enough to stay on through a couple of days of showers or even swimming (it is not completely waterproof but the water evaporates through it, so you don't need to change the bandage when it gets wet). It really does act as a second skin to keep the wound protected and healing and not dry out (which impedes healing). Did I mention that it prevents any scab from forming! You can also use it to protect feet (ankles, toes, etc) from being rubbed raw by shoes that don't fit perfectly. I would recommend replacing the bandaging every couple of days even if you have kept it dry. Then you can also observe how amazingly fast the healing has progressed.