Health Products: Butterfly Bandages

When my husband had major surgery, we spend a lot of time searching for products to minimize the resulting scars.  Butterfly bandages were recommended as a way to hold the skin together to prevent stretching during the healing process.  As a result, we had the chance to test out Rite Aid generic butterfly bandages for several weeks.

Note the claim that these are waterproof
and won't stick to wounds.

• The Good:  The bandages did not stick to the wound, as promised.  They were mostly waterproof (but not completely).  After wearing them for a week, there was only mild skin irritation.  The bandages are latex free for those people who suffer from allergies.

• The Bad:  They were OK at sticking.  My husband gives them a 7 out of 10 on the sticky factor, and admits that name brand products are better in the stickiness category.  They did not work very well in joint areas.

• The Verdict:  My husband used two full boxes of these while recovering from surgery.  They were cheaper compared to the name brand counterpart, and despite being slightly less sticky it was worth the price difference.  If you are using butterfly bandages for a joint that moves constantly, it might be better to go with the stickier name brand, but these are adequate for most other jobs.