How to remove a plaster – A guide to removing plasters painlessly

It's an age-old debate. Do you rip a plaster off quickly to get it over and done with, or should you remove it slowly to minimise the pain? Some studies have shown that a sudden, sharp shock is the best option rather than drawing it out, with people reporting less pain when the plaster is taken off quickly. 

Though there’s no right or wrong way to do it, use our guide to removing plasters from skin to minimise any pain for you and your children.

Removing a plaster with traditional adhesive can result in damage and pain due to the stripping of epidermal cells and hair. However following these three simple steps should help you remove the plaster from your skin without pain:

1. Grasp one edge of the plaster and gently lift the edge
2. With the other hand, place fingers on the surrounding skin and support removal by holding the skin taut
3. Gently remove the plaster keeping it close to skin and in the direction of hair growth

Elastoplast Sensitive Plasters are painless to remove, providing secure and skin friendly adhesion to ensure that the plaster stays in place. These plasters are the perfect solution for people with fragile, irritated or sensitive skin who require extra-gentle and soft wound treatment.

They're also designed to help those experiencing pain or anxiety at plaster removal. Available in light, medium and dark skin tones, the plasters are available as 20 strips in different sizes which seal all around the wound.

Elastoplast Sensitive Kids Plasters are also very skin friendly and suitable for covering all types of smaller wounds. Distract and delight your little one with cute animal designs, available in 20 strips.

While adults are more likely to be able to remove plasters without too much pain, young children may find the process very painful. However there are a number of techniques that parents can use for plaster removal:

• Pull in the direction of hair growth: Place your fingers either side of the plaster and gently remove with your other hand.
• Soak the plaster: Remove the plaster after giving your child a bath as the warm water can weaken the adhesive of the bandage, making it easier to peel off.
• Lubricate it: Cover the plaster with baby oil, then soak some cotton wool in the same substance before rubbing it over the plaster until you can slowly peel off the corners. If you don’t have baby oil at home, try using a product like hand or body lotion, or even a small amount of cooking oil such as vegetable or olive oil to do the same job.
• Freeze the adhesive: Wrap some ice cubes or an ice pack in a thin towel and gently push against the plaster. This cold compress can make the adhesive brittle so it's easier to remove.
• Get them to take a deep breath: Ease your child's anxiety by having them take a deep breath before you remove the plaster on the count of three.
• Use a distraction: Make sure your child knows you're going to remove the plaster. Then provide a distraction like their favourite toy, or tell them a story, to keep their mind off the plaster removal.

Elastoplast Kids Plasters have your child's favourite characters on them and are suitable for all types of smaller wounds. They protect children's wounds from dirt and bacteria, while sealing all around the wound.

Elastoplast's range includes PAW Patrol, Marvel, Disney Frozen 2 and more. All of these products stay firmly in place, but remove from the skin easily for painless removal.

Some plasters can leave a sticky glue residue behind once they’ve been pulled off, which can usually be gently scratched or rubbed off the skin. Try dousing a cotton ball with some surgical spirit, available from chemists, and holding it on the sticky patch for a minute before gently rubbing off the residue.

This works because the surgical spirit breaks down common glues and adhesives. Once you’ve rinsed off any remaining surgical spirit, apply some moisturiser to the area to prevent dry skin. Do not try this if you have an open or sensitive wound. Some online sources suggest applying baby oil to the area, which may be more gentle on your skin.

Another option would be to gently rub the area (not the open wound) with a warm flannel, to remove any remaining residue.

Blister plasters should only be changed when it peels off by itself. If you have a blister, the Elastoplast Blister Plaster immediately relieves the pain and seals the affected area safely against dirt and bacteria. The hydrocolloid technology helps the blister to heal faster, and its extra-strong adhesion keeps the plaster in place for days. Learn more about hydrocolloid plasters.