Thread: Super Glue

I've actually used super glue myself a few times in the past for cuts, non shaving related. I later found out they have a medical version when I cut the white of my eye.
The Doctor told me, he could glue it shut, or stitch it...I got the white of my eye stitched....Yup...

Really wierd....He numbed it up first, and me being "Farsighted", I didn't even see the needle...Hah.......It healed great......

I routinely use Crazy Glue for cuts and find it works great. I have never tried it on my face because I was scared I wouldn't be able to laugh or grin. I haven't cut my face badly in a long time, but, of course, now that I've said that I'm in for a good'n. I also like the Nexcare Waterproof band-aids, the clear ones. And no, I don't use those on my face either, but I might have to tomorrow.

I'm always cutting my hands fingers, only a few times badly, I guess Im accident prone.
Lost count of the times of used ca, amazing stuff.
I always clean the wound first and I've never had any scarring, I suppose because cuts from a straight are very clean with very little crushing of cells.

Originally Posted by straightshot

I have heard that the methanol will give you brain damage and the cyanide radical in the glue will kill you.

Some years back when having some dental work done, I discussed this with my dentist. He said that they use a methylacrylate vs a cyanoacrylate because of toxity issues!!

That probably meant local toxicity to the tooth and nerve structure involved locally, not systemic. Like others I have used cyanoacrylates for cuts, once for several months for a badly cut thumbnail, with no adverse outcomes.

Originally Posted by jkingrph

Some years back when having some dental work done, I discussed this with my dentist. He said that they use a methylacrylate vs a cyanoacrylate because of toxity issues!!

That probably meant local toxicity to the tooth and nerve structure involved locally, not systemic. Like others I have used cyanoacrylates for cuts, once for several months for a badly cut thumbnail, with no adverse outcomes.

The reason certain molecules containing nitrile groups ( CN, cyanide functional group) are poisonous while others aren't is due to the ability for the CN group to break off and interrupt the electron transport chain in the body. If the CN group does not readily break off, the toxicity will be low. Not only do cyanoacrylates not readily give up their CN groups, but upon contact with water the mono-cyanoacrylate polymerizes to give a pretty unreactive molecule. So the second the glue hits your skin it is rendered relatively inert. Don't drink it, but using it on cuts should not affect one adversely. Unless an allergy exists, of course.

I've been using CA for cuts and wounds forever, and it works great. Haven't thought about using it on my face, and for sure will try it on winter cracked fingers next time (why didn't I think of that?)

As far as toxicity goes, the voices in my head are barely louder, but they are somewhat more friendly. A fair trade if you ask me

Originally Posted by adbuett

The reason certain molecules containing nitrile groups ( CN, cyanide functional group) are poisonous while others aren't is due to the ability for the CN group to break off and interrupt the electron transport chain in the body. If the CN group does not readily break off, the toxicity will be low. Not only do cyanoacrylates not readily give up their CN groups, but upon contact with water the mono-cyanoacrylate polymerizes to give a pretty unreactive molecule. So the second the glue hits your skin it is rendered relatively inert. Don't drink it, but using it on cuts should not affect one adversely. Unless an allergy exists, of course.

That's what I know, We use a sterile formulation in our ER called Dermabond, which is a cyanoacrylate formulation.

I have not reserached the dental application/reason for not using cyanoacyrlate vs metylacyrlate. Possibly inside a crown the cyanide group would be contained and cause dental nerve problems. The metyl group apparently lacks the toxicity.

Originally Posted by jkingrph

That's what I know, We use a sterile formulation in our ER called Dermabond, which is a cyanoacrylate formulation.

I have not reserached the dental application/reason for not using cyanoacyrlate vs metylacyrlate. Possibly inside a crown the cyanide group would be contained and cause dental nerve problems. The metyl group apparently lacks the toxicity.

.

I'm a bit more pragmatic, I understand that apple pips contain cyanide in trace amounts. I know of no cases of deaths from apples.
Cyanide affects the functioning of cellular mitochondria, does anyone know at what dose cyanide poisioning would cause death.

Originally Posted by jkingrph

I have not reserached the dental application/reason for not using cyanoacyrlate vs metylacyrlate. Possibly inside a crown the cyanide group would be contained and cause dental nerve problems. The metyl group apparently lacks the toxicity.

In as many words, yes the methyl group lacks the toxicity. The main reason methacrylate is not going to be toxic is similar to cyanoacrylates. The monomers polymerize so quickly they don't have a chance to really do anything.

The LD50 for cyanide, determined from KCN which is readily dissociated into K+ and CN-, is about 5mg/kg or about .4g/180lb person. Of course the toxicity of superglue will depend on the ability for the CN group to break off of the actual molecule.

Originally Posted by adbuett

...The LD50 for cyanide, determined from KCN which is readily dissociated into K+ and CN-, is about 5mg/kg or about .4g/180lb person. Of course the toxicity of superglue will depend on the ability for the CN group to break off of the actual molecule.

Yes, but don't discount the first effects of the thiosulfates naturally produced by the body to detoxify this very CN radical....which occurs naturally in one of remote and barely remembered corners of the metabolic cycle.

Poisoning, as in spies and suicidal evil criminals ("Smell Watson, the scent of bitter almond..."), simply overwhelms the body's ability to counteract that much CN all at once. Any little minor amounts available to us as superglue are nothing compared to the 0.4g. I'd bet if you ate enough apple seeds you'd get more than a bit green....

It is also for this reason that superglue directly on a wound is no longer used by most sharper medical providers. The serum released by a cut contains thiosulfates which break down the glue and it does not hold very well after only a few hours. Dry cuts, i.e. one's that do not weep, do better with glue alone. A better wound dressing would include a steri-strip or butterfly and glue that to the skin and not rely on the glue for support.