sooo... no one ever warned me I'd be better off pain-wise by just branding my nicks shut.
works pretty well at stopping the bleeding though... thoughts?
Printable View
sooo... no one ever warned me I'd be better off pain-wise by just branding my nicks shut.
works pretty well at stopping the bleeding though... thoughts?
Hmmmmm, I don't think I ever read a post about styptics where the sting WASN"T mentioned.... I thought it was common knowledge :shrug:
Personally, I think the sting is incentive enough to improve your technique and stop cutting yourself, but that's just me :)
You get used to the sting. I don't notice it anymore. What gets me more is the roughness of the thing.
I hear an alum block stings less but I've yet to pick one up.
The trick I found to Styptic pencils is I do not leave them in the bathroom. In fact mine is in the garage with my hones. This means I really have to think twice before deciding to use it. So far in 4-5 months I have only made the trek to the garage 1 time.
I agree with all the other guys. No better friend, no worse enemy. It'll let you know you made a mistake, but it'll make you pay for it too. Its tough love...dont know how many more proverbial cliches i can make. Sorry, nothing you can do to lessen the sting though, because the styptic is actually cauterizing the wound.
maybe i'm weird but i kinda enjoy the way it feels.............. *(which may explain the amount of tattoo coverage i have...)
er.. me too.. it's like it stings then feels good when it fades.. endorphin release?
Not all styptic pencils are rough though and for some reason i find i prefer them for actual nick sealing. whereas i like an alum block for general irritation relief.
Styptic pencils also work a treat on spots (better than any spot cream i ever used) and mouth ulcers, bug bites basically anything. It's become an indispensible for me even outside of shaving
since we are on wound care.... if you happen to make a serious slice that a stypic pen won't close up get the crazy glue...
just a drop and hold the wound together.... use it all the time at work on my hands... i cut my thumb a couple months back clean to the bone..... couple drops of super glue held it shut and went back to work.... healed beautifully in less than 2 weeks it was just a thin red scar....
Neosporin is magic stuff as well, a must have. :)
oh yeah, have heard that, there's also an urban miyth that it was some kind of military development originally , like liquid stitches for battlefield treatment?
Possibly started by the film dog soldiers?
"Ever wondered why the best thing that superglue sticks together is your fingers? Forget your grandma's china cups - this stuff was developed for the Vietnam war to patch up broken soldiers."
A way to use styptic for larger cuts is to crush it up and add water to make a paste. Spread the paste over the cut and it forms a kind of anti-bacterial crust. An old school doctor gave me this tip.
They use it in the hospital they just colour it purple and call it Dermabond and charge ungodly amounts of money for it.
Interesting to know. I figured there had to be a difference (other than price). I guess the moral of the story is that if you have sensitive skin use the fancy super glue...
What about the CA that you have to add an accelerator to. I wonder if that would be less burny?
i use loctite brand... it don't burn *(or else i have sufficient nerve damage to mask it..)
As a remote paramedic,(Get to do more stuff than a regular paramedic) I can tell you that the main risk of home sealing a major wound is the risk of infection.
That's the reason they scrub lacerations with providine before suturing or sealing with dermabond
I had neck surgery a few years back and the stapled up incission wouldn't stop bleeding later that night, so they called the doc back in. He had 4 nurses hold my arms and he put a knee on my chest and his hand on my forehead and stapled away on my neck. I snagged the staple gun after that and do my own closures at the house now. I put alcohol on the staples first to make sure they are clean before I shoot them.
And just want to mention an alum block works great as well and has many other uses like cut a small chunk of it like a tic tac size
and let it melt in your mouth on an ulcer also if you cut your dog nails to short it will stop the bleeding!!
Alum block, yes it does sting less try it
Ok, so call me weird...but I've used a styptic pencil for years and it doesn't hurt that much. Granted most of that time I shaved with cartridge shavers and I haven't had to use it yet with the straight. Does it hurt more when you use it after a straight slice?
If I slice my hands it's generally because I'm wrenching on the truck. Lil gasoline and that sucker is sanitized.
Seriously though, direct pressure and elevation have yet to stop any serious cut I've had. Including the one where I severed a vein. Bled like crazy for 5 minutes. Looked like I dipped my entire hand in red paint by the time it stopped.
And yes, the styptic pencil burns like hell, but it burns so good! I love it. I don't have an Alum Block yet and I get some irritation from the straight on my jaw line, so I just rub the Styptic Pencil all over there. By the time it dries it looks like I've taken a fist to the face it's so purple and red. Fades after 15 minutes though.
speaking of alum blocks.... i was at whole foods *(aka... smelly hippie store) with the wife and i picked up some kiss my face cream.... i noticed they have the "natural" crystal deodorants there also... read the ingredients.... aluminum alum.....
bought one for $5 and use it after i shave..... stops the bleeding from nicks and has really helped with controlling razor burn and rash.....
altho it don't burn as good as the stypic does....
$5 at smelly hippie beats the hell out of $20 something at AOS.....
Some eye drops get the red out because they
contain some of the same drug that boxing
cut men use. Read the labels and do some homework...
A pharmacist may help you sort eye drops into
groups by ingredient for you and help you understand
what the ingredients do if your web search magic needs
help.
A styptic pencil can apply very localized pressure
that can also be important. Dip the tip in water,
apply and press on the nick and hold. Rinse the
tip and apply a second drop on the nick and hold.
Once the bleeding is under control a topical antibiotic
is a good thing.
Some of the kid friendly scrape and scratch products
are also good. Skip the spray ones (not in the eyes) or
spray on a finger and dot on the nick.
New-SkinŽ Liquid Bandage looks less goofy than bits
of tissue paper.
BTW: If you think you need stitches get them promptly.
It stinks to have the doctor say ... I wish you had come
in 14 hours ago.
absinthe.. i defy anything to survive that. Including my liver.
Salt water for ulcers in the mouth works best. 2 parts salt to water rinse spit out. Do that a couple times will heal up quick. Will sting though. Also good if you have inflamed gums.
The crystal deodorant can also be found in any Walgreen's, CVS, Walmart or target . At least in the tri state area of the USA
Found the Crystal Deodorant at London Drugs today any Canadians looking for it. $6 and they have the plain clear men's one so it doesn't look goofy sitting on your shelf like the Lavender flowery women's one.
[QUOTE=Castel33;851183]Salt water for ulcers in the mouth works best. 2 parts salt to water rinse spit out. Do that a couple times will heal up quick. Will sting though. Also good if you have inflamed gums.
I beg to differ, ulcers go away much faster with alum then rinsing with salt and water, and its been used that way for decades.
I've found an alum block works really well and doesn't sting like the sticks.
Styptic is just the ultimate punishment for making a mistake.
It does its job by making sure that cut doesn't produce a lake
of your blood as your stroke or technique gives your skin a ding.
You learn a good lesson each time Styptic gives you a sting.