This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.
The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work.
This article has been viewed 133,068 times.
Learn more...
Super glue is an amazing adhesive that can hold securely to a variety of surfaces and materials. Unfortunately, this includes your skin. Luckily, there are several products that are known to remove super glue from your skin, including acetone, lotion, petroleum jelly, and oil.
Steps
Removing Super Glue with Acetone
-
1Fill a container with acetone. Find a container large enough to stick your hands in. Fill the container about half way full with acetone.[1]
- Acetone is the main component in most nail polish removers. It can be found at most general and drug stores.
- Do not fill the container completely full.
- If you have sensitive skin, consider diluting the acetone with water.
-
2Place the affected skin in acetone. Completely submerge the super glued skin in the acetone. Let it soak for at least two to three minutes.[2]Advertisement
-
3Break the glue’s bond. Gently rub the skin to break the glue’s bond. Once the bond is broken, remove your hands from the acetone. Carefully peel the glue from your skin.[3]
- Avoid leaving your hands in the acetone for longer than ten minutes. Acetone can irritate your skin.
- If you feel resistance when removing the glue, stop and let your hands soak longer.
- Do not force the glue from your skin. This is dangerous and can cause damage.
-
4Wash and moisturize your hands. Thoroughly wash your hands with warm water and soap. This will help to wash away any residual glue or acetone. Pat your hands dry. Acetone can dry out your skin so it is wise to apply a moisturizer after washing your hands.
Using Petroleum Jelly or Lotion
-
1Apply petroleum jelly or lotion to the skin. Both petroleum jelly and lotion can help to break the bond of the glue to your skin. Use a liberal amount so that the affected area is completely saturated.[4]
-
2Massage it into the skin for several minutes. Gently massage the jelly or lotion into the affected area. Once you feel the bond of the glue start to break, pull the attached skin apart. Gently peel the remaining glue from your skin.[5]
- Do not force the glue from your skin. This is dangerous and can cause damage.
-
3Wash your hands. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water to wash away any residual glue. Pat your hands dry.
Removing Glue with Oil
-
1Select an oil. Vegetable, almond, and baby oil are known to be oils that can remove super glue. If these oils are not immediately available, try other cooking oils such as olive and coconut oil.
-
2Apply the oil using a cloth. Use a clean, dry cloth to apply the oil to the affected area. Massage the oil into the affected area. Continue applying oil until you feel the bond of the super glue start to break. Gently pull the skin apart and peel away any remaining glue.
- Do not force the glue from your skin. This is dangerous and can cause damage.
-
3Wash your hands. Thoroughly wash your hands with warm water and soap to remove the residual glue and oil. The oil is likely to leave your hands feeling very soft and moisturized.
Warnings
- Do not overreact and force the skin apart. You could do damage to the skin.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Do not use sharp objects or teeth to remove the super glue from your skin.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
About This Article
To get super glue off your hands, soak your hands in acetone or nail polish remover. After 2-3 minutes, rub your skin to break up the glue and then peel it off your skin. Alternately, put enough petroleum jelly or lotion on your hands to saturate the glue, then massage it into your skin. When you start to feel the glue loosen, peel off the rest of it. Don’t have petroleum jelly or lotion? Massage vegetable, almond, or baby oil into your hands to remove the glue. To learn how to wash your hands thoroughly when you’re done to remove any residual glue, keep reading!
