Steri-Strips are a state-of-the-art wound-management tool that can speed healing, reduce the chance of infection or other complications, minimize scaring, and even avoid a need for sutures. The versatility & effectiveness of these make it a product that everyone should have in his or her first aid kit. This particular listing is a super great buy given how pricy these generally are ($10 for a 10-pack is a fantastic buy on Steri-Strips.) This specific size (4x0.5 inches) can handle wounds of all sizes (and can easily be trimmed for smaller wounds.)
===WHAT’S A Steri-Strip???===
More or less, 3M Steri-Strips are a product that takes the traditional butterfly closure into the 21st century, with more uses & better healing outcomes. Steri-Strips can be used in place of sutures (or in combo with them), and can be used with wounds of varying levels of severity. They can be used in places where butterfly closures, staples, or stitches are not practical or possible. With the correct usage of Steri-Strips, users can achieve better outcomes in wound healing compared to treatment with other methods.
===WHY STERI-STRIPS OVER LESS EXPENSIVE PRODUCTS? (ex: standard butterfly closures)===
As you can see, the price on Steri-Strips isn’t exactly cheap (60 Steri-Strips cost more than 300 butterfly closures.) For me, that triggered the question of, “what features do Steri-Strips have that justifies this higher purchase price?” After looking into it, I felt the higher price was completely justified based on…
---Reduced Risk of Infection – Steri-Strips are sold in a sterile package (so the product that makes contact with an open wound is sterile, reducing the chance of infection.) Additionally, some research suggests that the risk of infection with Steri-Strips is less than the risk of infection with stitches or staples.
---Superior Wound Drainage – Steri-Strips use a material with pores in it that allow a wound to drain, and this reduces the risk of serious infection/complications, plus it speeds healing.
---Antimicrobial Adhesive – the adhesive used on the Steri-Strips is not just an adhesive, but also an antimicrobial that has been tested and found to be effective in reducing infection risks.
---Cosmetics – when used correctly, Steri-Strips can DRAMATICALLY reduce the risk of scarring, and this is especially useful for areas like the face where one ideally wants to minimize how much scar tissue is visible (ex: avoiding the scar markings that stitches or staples leave behind.)
===PICTURES SHOWING MY USAGE OF STERI-STRIPS & HOW THEY WORK===
I have attached pictures with this review showing how Steri-Strips worked on a wound I had. While not the easiest pictures to look at, I genuinely feel images with wound care discussion contributes to a knowledge base, and I intend for these to tie into the core discussion of why I think this is a product that is must-have for yourself and your family…these helped heal a nasty wound quickly and successfully. Without these Steri-Strips, my finger would look deformed from the excessive scar tissue, have a scar that is not nearly as strong/healthy, and probably would have gotten infected.
As you can see, I had a wound over the jointed part of my right middle finger. Since this skin is always moving. It was not just more painful but a more complicated wound to manage. Sutures (and staples) are not practical in this location for that kind of wound, but the laceration was DEEP and wide, and as you can see it needed something to hold the laceration together. Part of the reason sutures were not considered ideal is because this wound needed to be able to drain easily.
After flushing with saline and cleaning with Betadine, two thin Steri-Strips went on the cleaned wound to form the base that held the wound closed so it can heal. Notice how after application of the Steri-Strips that the ends of the wound were held together as they should be. This allowed the wound to heal normally – had I not done this with the Steri-Strips, the scar would be larger and rather deformed. Also notice the image shows how the wound can drain directly THROUGH the Steri-Strips as they have open pores…that is a HUGE plus for healing and especially beneficial to this type of wound. After application of the Steri-Strips, I then used sterile gauze, AmeriGel (amazing stuff), and an elastic wrap to form the outer portion of the bandage to cover the wound (I highly recommend doing this as dressings that keep wounds MOIST are very preferable to dry ones.)
So while not the prettiest images in the world, it illustrates how Steri-Strips were hands-down the most appropriate care for a wound of this kind/location/severity and how it held the damaged tissue correctly to allow it to heal without deformity (and without complications.) While I hope no wounds come to you or your family, the reality is that we're all human and we all make (and get) booboos from time to time...and I feel this best illustrates how Steri-Strips can help when the (more severe) booboos from life occur.
===CONCLUSION===
While Steri-Strips certainly do not overwrite the importance of professional care if the situation is severe enough to warrant it, it gives the individual home user options if they have an intermediate level wound that is manageable with home care, but still in need of a product that can hold a laceration in place/shut so it can heal properly. For this purpose, Steri-Strips is arguably the product of choice.
As other users have noted, Steri-Strips has is own self-adhesive, but the usage of an additional adhesive product will give the strips more durability (there are a few products used for this, at least one which is made by 3M.) If the wound is in an area with excessive oil or sweat buildup occurs, or where there is a ton of drainage, use of this secondary adhesive is advisable.
So now you have my reasoning on why I say everyone should have Steri-Strips. I hope you find my review helpful and apologize for the length. Steri-Strips are a great product and they have served me really well, and they will serve you and your family equally well.
I haven't used it yet, thankfully not badly injured yet but the no-frills plastic packaging seems a little old and yellow.
However, the use-by date is 2021 hence this is obviously a brand new product.
The strips are individually packaged and look like adhesive bandages from the back.
Purchased due to recent shoulder surgery. I couldn't find these at any of the local pharmacies in the area (Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, etc.) Exact same product provided to me by my doctor's office. They only provided me ONE sheet of strips that lasted about 4 days. These came with enough to get me through another couple of weeks before my next follow up appointment. Easy to apply and works as described
Everyone in my family is accident prone so first aid supplies and knowledge is critical for us or we'd be in the E.R. multiple times per month. I can say from firsthand experience, this is literally the exact package of strips doctors and nurses have used on me in the past when I've had to go in for deeper gashes. These are no substitution for stitches or professional medical knowledge, but I've personally used them for moderate gashes less than 2 inches wide, stab wounds, anything with a clean edge, and they work great to help a fully cleaned and prepped wound seal fully with minimal to no scarring. Great product, very adhesive if you properly clean the area before application and keep them dry.
I ordered some of these to use on my forehead, after having a sebaceous cyst removed. I bought 10 packs, with each pack having 6 strips, ( 3 1/2" X 4" strips on 2 sheets). I am able to easily cut each strip in half for my needs, so am able to double the 6 strips into 12. I usually use 2 of the strips, I have cut down in size, per day. The strips are easy to apply across my incision, and work very well for me. I'm completely satisfied with them. I remove the strips, when showering and/or washing my hair, and apply new strips afterwards.
Feature Product
- Provides wound support and increases the tensile strength of the wound compared to sutures
- 10 Pack of 6 Strips
- Sterile, breathable and comfortable to wear
- 1/2" x 4"
- Hypoallergenic adhesive
Description
Sterile skin closure strips that are made of a porous, non-woven backing coated with a pressure-sensitive, hypoallergenic adhesive and reinforced with polyester filaments for added strength.
These work very well. My eyesight is fairly poor so seeing the tape on the backing is a challenge for me, I wish there was a way to enhance visibility on the backing so I'd know just where to grab. They stick very well too.
I also found it mends paper extremely well and blends right in. Will probably buy it again.
I love these! I use them at the hospital as a nurse all the time. I use them on patients that have orthopedic surgeries. Trust me they work. I’ve seen some reviews that they don’t work. It’s clearly because they aren’t using them correctly. I tried these, they are the exact same ones.
I use these the most in my first aid kit for my sons . I use these at camp when the men cut themselves with pocket knives.
I clean the wound with soap and water. Then use antiseptic. I let the antiseptic dry. I like to use new skin sometimes. If it’s a fresh cut I reinforce it with gauze and Coband if needed to keep dirt and bacteria away.
Use it correctly and it it amazing. It has saved doctor visits.
These are great little kits to take where ever you go. You can throw one in your purse, wallet, glove box in your car, desk drawer at work. Everything you need to get that stinking splinter out right in that tiny little pack! Now you don't have to run around the house looking for your sewing needles, and tweezers, along with peroxide and bandaids and neosporin. These are a great asset if your family gets a lot of splinters especially in the spring and summer time when you can play outside.
I keep these in my 72-hour emergency kit, as they are a good short-term substitute for actual sutures. Medical help may be hours or days away and these will suit most needs during a crisis, such as deep cuts that would ordinarily require stitches. Use these first and get sutures later. Two thumbs up.
What can really be said about these skin closures? They are as advertised 3M Skin Closures not a cheap knock offs that can't hold a wound together. For those unfamiliar with skin closures of this type, they are excellent for holding small or medium wounds together while they heal as well as holding more serious wounds together until you can get treatment.
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