Putting glue on your skin could be bad, especially if you are allergic to any ingredients in the adhesive. 

When you are working on a project with glue, there is a chance that an accidental spill could end up on your skin. 

A small amount of glue will not be very bad for your skin. But if you did get glue on your skin, you should remove it because it could lead to skin damage, such as burns, a dermatitis reaction, and others. 

If you got glue on your skin, don’t worry, several easy-to-follow methods can help you get the glue off your skin. 

Note: don’t try to pull the glue off your skin with your fingers or a knife. This could injure your skin in multiple ways.

Keep reading to learn more about what type of glue may be harsh on your skin, which glue is safe, and how to remove the glue. 

Is Glue Bad For Your Skin?

There are so many different types of glue, but generally, each could be bad for your skin. 

Glue could potentially cause an unwanted skin reaction. 

Here is what you need to look out for with different types of glue. 

• Coul burn or irritate your skin
• Could cause an allergic reaction 
• Could cause inflammation or dehydration 

If you aren’t allergic to the ingredients found in the glue, and if glue stays in contact with your skin for a shorter period, you should be fine. 

In this case, it will help to know how you can easily and safely remove the glue from your skin without damaging it. 

Which glue is safe for the skin?

Various types of glue are okay for the skin – unless it causes an allergic reaction. 

For example, many cosmetic glue products are used in contact with the skin, such as hair glue, eyelash glue, and others. 

So even though some industrial types of glue may be harsher on your skin, some are formulated to be gentle and safe for your skin. 

How To Remove Glue From Your Skin

Removing glue from your skin doesn’t need to feel worrisome or intimidating. 

Below are the most commonly used household items that can help you with this need, with the exact steps you need to follow.

Soap And Water 

If the glue is still wet, you should be able to remove it with this method. 

For this method, you will need the following:

• Water 
• Soap
• Clean cloth (or paper towel)
• Hand lotion

Follow these steps to remove the glue from your skin before it dries and hardens:

1. Get soap on the affected area and start washing it off
2. Keep washing it until the glue comes off entirely (Make sure there is no residue left)
3. Dry the affected area and generously apply a moisturizing hand lotion or hand cream, as the glue can cause significant dryness. 

The next couple of methods will offer you a solution if the glue has dried to your skin and you can’t remove it with soap and water. 

Lemon Juice

There is more than one way to work with this method; both are just as effective. 

What you will need:

• Lemon
• Soap and water
• Hand lotion

If you do not have a lemon, you may use any other citrus fruits, such as lime, orange, or grapefruit, but if you have a lemon, stick with it as it is the most effective.

Follow these steps to soften the glue on your skin and remove it safely:

1. Cut the lemon in half 
2. Grab one-half of the lemon and start rubbing it over the glue while also squeezing it
3. Keep massaging its lemon juice into the affected area
4. If you squeeze all the juice out of it, but the glue still isn’t softening or disintegrating well enough to easily and safely remove it without forcefully peeling it, then grab the other half lemon and continue the process
5. Once the glue is breaking apart, wash it off with soap and water until there is no residue left
6. Dry the affected area.
7. Apply moisturizing hand lotion or cream.

Here is another way to work with this method to soften and remove the dried glue from your skin.

What you’ll need:

• Small bowl (or cup)
• Lemon juice
• Cotton swab (or toothbrush)
• Cotton ball
• Water and soap
• Hand lotion

Follow these simple steps:

1. Add lemon juice to a smaller bowl
2. Saturate the cotton ball in lemon juice
3. Place the lemon-soaked cotton ball over the glue and let it soak for a minimum of 5-10 minutes.
4. If the glue isn’t dissolving yet, saturate the cotton ball with lemon juice again and re-apply
5. Keep repeating these steps if necessary.
6. Soak the cotton swab (or toothbrush) with lemon juice and start massaging the affected area in a circular motion to help the glue break apart more easily – be gentle to avoid irritating your skin from rubbing too harshly
7. Keep re-saturating the cotton swab (or toothbrush) and massaging it into the glue until you remove it and no residue remains.
8. Wash the area with soap and water
9. Once dried, apply a lotion or cream that moisturizes the skin

Keep in mind that if you have any cuts, open wounds, or irritations on your skin beneath the glue or very close by, the lemon method could still be applied if this is the case, but most likely, it will sting. 

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is another method to help safely remove glue from your skin. 

You will need the following items for this method:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton ball (or swab)
• Toothbrush
• Soap and water
• Moisturizing lotion or cream 

These are the steps you need to follow:

1. Soak the cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and apply it to the glue
2. Let the soaked cotton ball sit on the glue for a good 5 minutes or more
3. Dab a cotton swab or a toothbrush in the rubbing alcohol, and gently scrub the glue with a circular motion
4. Keep repeating the above steps until all glue has been safely removed and no residue remains
5. Wash the area with soap and water to clean it off well.
6. Apply a lotion or cream that will keep your skin moisturized.

Make sure you don’t skip the last step. It may seem trivial or unnecessary, but it is important, as glue can cause significant skin dryness that could result in irritation. 

Oil

Usually, any type of oil works for this, from essential oil to vegetable oil, olive oil, or sunflower oil. 

You will need the following items for this method:

• Oil
• Bowl
• Cotton swab (or toothbrush)
• Salt
• Soap and water
• Moisturizing cream

These are the steps needed for the oil method:

1. Add oil to a bowl
2. Heating the oil usually increases effectiveness, but you need to be careful not to heat it too much and risk burning your skin – heat the oil for no more than 8-10 seconds in the microwave.
3. Saturate the cotton swab (or toothbrush) with the oil and start massing it into the affected area using circular motions
4. Repeat the above step until the glue softens or breaks apart.
5. If this is becoming hard to achieve, add a little salt to the oil, mix it, then continue applying this to the glue
6. Once you have removed all glue residue, wash the area with soap and clean water
7. Apply moisturizing lotion or cream to prevent dryness or dehydration

Acetone

This method is usually most commonly used to remove skin glue. 

You will need the following items:

• Acetone
• Cotton ball or cotton swab
• Soap and water
• Moisturizing lotion or cream

Follow these steps to remove the glue from your skin with acetone:

1. Saturate a clean cotton ball in acetone
2. Apply the acetone-saturated cotton ball to the glue and 
3. Let the glue get saturated in acetone
4. Repeat these steps until the glue starts to break apart
5. Use the cotton ball or cotton swab to do so until there is no residue left
6. Wash the area with soap and water to clean the surface
7. Once dried, apply a lotion to moisturize the skin

Conclusion

It should be fine if glue accidentally gets on your skin during your DIY projects. 

Use one of the methods described in this guide to easily and safely remove it. 

Getting glue on your skin accidentally isn’t necessarily bad unless you have an allergic reaction.