Even ten years ago, we didn’t have a good understanding of how toxic a lot of our day-to-day products were. And, the market for clean and sustainable products was pretty niche.
Now, we’re blessed (or cursed) with the knowledge that a lot of our household products, cosmetics, personal care items, and more are full of toxic substances and chemicals . . . We’re talking PFAS, BPA, phthalates, flame retardants, lead, microplastics, and the rest.
As people have become way more aware of what’s in their products, they’re being wisely choosier about what they buy. We LOVE a non-toxic, clean, and sustainable product that works well and is good for us.
You may have already made the clean switch on things like makeup, cleaning products, food storage, and clothing. But, have you thought about your bandaids? If you haven’t, you should!
Think about it: when we have an open wound, even if it’s small, that’s a direct entry point into our body. If we put a potentially toxic bandaid on top of our cut or scrape, we’re letting those harmful chemicals right in. This is why we should ALL be buying non-toxic, clean bandaids for our family.
5 Non-Toxic Bandaids & Why You Should Make the Switch
You don’t need a bandaid every day or all the time, but when you need one, you need one. Right? It’s something you’ve always got to have on hand in case you or anyone else in your family gets a cut, scrape, or other injury.
Covering the wound and keeping it clean to give it a chance to heal problem-free is the whole point of a bandaid . . . but if the bandaid is toxic, the process is a little counterproductive, right? Luckily, there are a few clean bandaid brands we’ll tell you about.
What is Bandaid?
So, technically “Band-Aid’ is a brand name. It’s one of those things like “Kleenex” or “Q-Tip” where we just know the product by the brand. However, more accurately, a “band-aid” is an adhesive bandage. Band-Aid is just the most common adhesive bandage brand you’ll find out there.
An adhesive bandage is a flexible fabric strip equipped with an adhesive, an absorbent pad, and a covering to stop a minor wound from bleeding or getting dirty. It gives the injury a clean space to heal effectively.
What Are Bandaids Made Of?
There are a lot of potential ingredients in a bandaid. Here are some of them:
Polyurethane: Used for the bandage’s flexible fabric, however, it often includes PFAS.
Acrylic Adhesive: A medical-grade adhesive that adheres to the skin.
Cotton: Often used in the absorbent pad to soak up blood or other fluids from the wound.
Cellulose: Another material for the absorbent pad to keep the wound dry, but this one often includes PFAS.
Silicone: Sometimes used in the adhesive to prevent sticking to the wound.
Antimicrobial Agents: Substances like silver or iodine to prevent infection. These usually aren’t a problem unless you’re allergic.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE): Used in some bandages for moisture resistance, but often include PFAS.
Latex: Some bandages contain latex, which can cause allergic reactions for lots of people with sensitive skin.
Formaldehyde: A toxic adhesive that can cause allergic reactions and is potentially carcinogenic.
Phthalates: Used in plasticizers for the backing material of bandages, but it can cause hormonal disruption and allergic reactions.
Toluene: Found in some adhesives, toluene can be harmful if inhaled in large amounts and may cause skin irritation.
BPA (Bisphenol A): Some plastic components might contain BPA, which is linked to various health issues, including hormonal disruptions.
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA): Used in some adhesives for flexibility.
Polyethylene: Used in some backing materials for durability.
Polypropylene: Used in some backing materials for strength and flexibility.
Isopropyl Alcohol: Used in some antiseptic bandages.
What Are The Best Non-Toxic Bandaids?
PATCH Bamboo Bandages
These adhesive bandages are the BEST when it comes to non-toxic brands. They’re made from 100% organic bamboo fiber, and totally hypoallergenic. There are no plastics, latex, or other irritating chemicals. They also use a mineral-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive that gently adheres to the skin without any of the harmful or toxic ingredients.
Now, we all know the real challenge isn’t finding clean brands, but finding clean brands that work as well as the toxic stuff, right? Remember those recycled pencils we used to get in school that literally didn’t work? Well, if you’re wondering if PATCH bandages are actually effective for wound care, they 100% are. In fact, bamboo fiber is naturally breathable and soft, which is great for promoting healing without irritation. Bamboo is also one of the world’s fastest growing, renewable materials, making it a good environmental choice too.
If you like bandaids that do a little more to push along your healing process, you can still get that with these bamboo bandages. PATCH has bandaid options enriched with activated charcoal, coconut oil, and aloe vera to help you heal faster without the use of toxic ingredients.
All Terrain Bandages
Here’s another clean bandage brand that’s great for sensitive skin, as they’re latex-free. They also don’t use any PFAS or other harmful chemicals, like PATCH bandages. However, they are plastic-based, so they’re not biodegradable like bamboo bandaids and they do still use some synthetic materials. Basically, we can’t say they’re 100% clean, but they’re definitely better than the big box stuff.
What you’ll also like about All Terrain bandages is the fact they have waterproof and “super-stick” options that are super practical for wounds that are on hands or other parts of our body bound to get wet or experience a lot of activity. No one likes to find bandages that fell off someone’s skin (gross), and you don’t want to be the person responsible. A bandage that sticks and stays stuck until you want to remove it is definitely a pro in our book.
First Honey Honey Mānuka Bandages
These bandaids are actually made with medical-grade, antibacterial Mānuka honey, a non-toxic adhesive, and other clean ingredients. The honey is natural and cruelty-free, harvested in New Zealand. And, the honey isn’t there just because it’s a non-toxic alternative to the other stuff, it’s actually great for treating minor cuts and scrapes.
The honey creates a moist and low pH environment perfect for supporting new tissue formation. Plus, the honey saturates the wound to keep your skin healthy and create a physical barrier to keep your wound clean. If all that wasn’t enough, honey is naturally anti-inflammatory, helping reduce any pain that may come with your injury.
Of course, if you’re allergic to honey, these are not the bandages to go with. But if you’re good with honey, definitely try out these unique bandaids. Oh, and we forgot to mention, they’re biodegradable so good for you and the environment.
Eco-Bandages
Here’s a really unique non-toxic bandage option. Eco-Bandages are actually a brush-on bandage that creates a zero-waste barrier between your wound and the outside world. It feels just like skin (and comes in plenty of shades to fit your skin-tone) and you don’t have to deal with the toxic ingredients, the sticky residue, or the ugly fabric strip.
Despite looking more like a makeup product you just brush on, Eco-Bandages are actually antiseptic, waterproof, and flexible. Of course, they’re also non-toxic, latex-free, and PFAS-free. If you’re worried about removing it, don’t be. Some coconut oil or olive oil and a warm washcloth will get it right off.
Made from natural materials and free from latex and other harmful additives, these bandages are a great eco-friendly option. And, once it’s removed and the liquid washes away, there’s no waste. (And, yes, it’s ocean safe.) As mentioned, there are a variety of skin-tone options, but if you want a little color (or your kids do) there are two naturally dyed options like hibiscus (pink) and ocean (blue).
Add these to your clean cosmetics and you always have a sustainable and practical bandaid option.
FEBU Bamboo Bandages
We’ve got one more organic bamboo option for you. The natural bamboo fiber, as we mentioned, is great for wound healing and is naturally biodegradable. FEBU is also hypoallergenic, latex-free, plastic-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-free, and vegan. Needless to say, this brand is 100% non-toxic.
One of our favorite parts of this brand over some of the others we’ve recommended is the variety of size options. Their variety pack will definitely set you up for most minor cuts and scrapes you’ll encounter. However, they don’t have any waterproof options and there aren’t any fun print options for your kids. Draw something on them with a non-toxic marker and you’re good to go.
Make the switch to non-toxic bandages.
There’s no reason to still be using products with harmful chemicals and toxins. There are just too many AMAZING clean alternatives out there for all of our daily products, from our makeup to our bandaids. If you’re super inspired to make more changes, check out our guide to non-toxic products. Of course, you can always trust our TSC products to be totally clean too.
And if you’re looking for something to speed up healing, toss the Polysporin in the trash. You need to listen to this HIM & HER episode with the founder of Active Skin Repair. While you’re listening, get your clean, non-toxic insanely effective healing ointment here. We love the spray and the gel. The results will shock you.
What cleaner choices have you made recently in your home? What did you throw out and what did you replace it with? We need details in the comments. We want all the tips on having a clean, non-toxic lifestyle.
x, The Skinny Confidential team.
+ The best clean, non-toxic candle here.
++ Lauryn’s favorite non-toxic cleaning supplies.
NON-TOXIC HEALING:
