Shelf life of Band-Aid

Nowadays, every household has Band-Aids. If you have a small wound on your body, the first thing people think of is Band-Aids. Band-Aids have many uses and are very popular. But this does not mean that you can use them without restraint. Band-Aids do have a shelf life. Many people have a lot of Band-Aids that they cannot use up after the shelf life has expired, but they are reluctant to throw them away. They want to know whether the Band-Aids can still be used after the shelf life has expired. So, what should you do if the Band-Aids have expired?

Band-Aids can apply pressure to stop bleeding, protect wounds, prevent infection, and promote healing. They also have the advantages of small size, simple use, easy to carry, good breathability, and reliable efficacy.

However, the adhesive tape used for Band-Aids has poor air permeability. The water vapor and sweat normally secreted by the human body cannot penetrate this layer of adhesive tape, thus causing a soaking effect on the local skin, which manifests as wrinkled local skin.

Band-Aids are sanitary products that need to be well stored and cared for. Otherwise, not only may they fail to achieve the emergency hemostatic effect, but they may also aggravate the infection of the wound and affect wound healing. So what is the shelf life of Band-Aids?

Band-Aids should be kept sealed and away from light at room temperature. The validity period is generally three years. The relevant text is marked on the outsourcing. When purchasing, be sure to purchase it at a regular pharmacy, etc. Do not buy Band-Aids of unknown origin just to save money. Also, be sure to observe the outer packaging carefully and do not buy expired Band-Aids. As for the Band-Aids you have at home, you should also check whether they have expired before use. It is best to check and update the Band-Aids at home regularly.

What to do if you use an expired Band-Aid

Although you should pay attention to the shelf life before using a Band-Aid, what should you do if you have accidentally used it?

Experts point out that the household Band-Aids currently sold on the market mainly have the effect of local anti-inflammatory and swelling reduction, but cannot stop bleeding. Therefore, they are only suitable for emergency treatment of shallow and minor wounds. However, if the Band-Aid has passed its expiration date, bacteria may have grown on its surface, so it is not recommended to use it.

Of course, if you use an expired Band-Aid, you should stop using it immediately, clean the wound and put on a new Band-Aid. It is okay as long as there are no adverse reactions. However, if you find severe pain, redness or swelling in the wound after using a Band-Aid, it means that the wound is likely to be infected. When this happens, go to the hospital as soon as possible to treat the wound.

Therefore, Band-Aids will breed bacteria after their shelf life, and the bacteria will enter the blood through the wound and cause infection, so it is not recommended that you use them. If you have used it accidentally, it is okay if no problems occur. If problems occur, you must go to the hospital in time to avoid causing more serious problems. Therefore, you must use new Band-Aids and don’t be reluctant to replace them and harm your health.