Removing EEG glue from your child’s hair-is there anything worse? I cannot believe that we have the technology to actually do EEGs, but we do not have a good way to remove that darn glue from their heads, painlessly. The child has already been through enough.
As if kids and parents weren’t stressed enough about having to do an EEG, then we have to go home and figure out how to get that concrete off their heads.
It’s awful, right?
Surgical and EEG Glue
I heard a great tip from a Mom recently, so that inspired me to ask a few moms what they use.
I’m also sharing what I use to get EEG glue off of Kevin’s head.
What DOES NOT work to get Medical EEG glue off
First, I’m sharing two tips that I was given, and they did not work.
- Acetone: This is the tip that the EEG techs gave me. Even if you’re comfortable putting nail polish remover on your child’s head, it didn’t work for me. It just made a mess. Also, it had zero affect on removing the EEG glue from his hair. I had made sure that it was 100% acetone, but it didn’t work.
- “Just shave his head!” : When my boys were younger, we just shaved their heads every other month or so. That was their haircut. Once, I was struggling to get the glue off and I thought, “heck, he’s due for a haircut anyway” and started shaving. What a mistake that was! It was like pulling 50 band-aids off his scalp, one by one. It was awful. I felt terrible. But once I started, I couldn’t stop since he had some shaved spots in his head.
Since this post was written, my son now has an RNS device in his head. Now he doesn’t get EEGs because the device tracks activity in his brain. We no longer have to worry about how to dissolve EEG glue or how to remove glue from hair.
Types of Glue in Hair
My biggest concern in this area, as a parent, is EEG glue. Because an EEG will always be done on the head (because that’s where the brain is!), getting glue out of his hair is problematic.
But there are different types of glue that end up on our kids’ heads, for different reasons.
EEG Glue
EEG glue, also known as EEG electrode paste, is a type of conductive adhesive that is used in electroencephalography (EEG) testing. It is applied to the scalp to help establish a strong electrical connection between the electrodes and the skin, which is necessary for accurate measurement of brain activity.
EEG glue is typically water-soluble, non-irritating to the skin, and designed to be easily removed after the test. But we know that doesn’t always happen.
Medical Glue
Medical glue, on the other hand, is a type of adhesive used for wound closure. It is commonly used as an alternative to stitches or staples to close surgical incisions or lacerations.
Medical glue is typically a cyanoacrylate-based adhesive that creates a strong bond between the edges of a wound, promoting healing and reducing the risk of infection.
Medical glue is also waterproof, which makes it particularly useful in situations where the wound may be exposed to moisture or liquids. But more difficult to wash off.
Surgical Glue
Surgical glue, also known as tissue adhesive or surgical adhesive, is a type of medical adhesive that is used to close wounds and incisions in surgical procedures. It is often used as an alternative to traditional sutures or staples, and can provide a number of benefits such as reduced scarring, faster healing times, and improved cosmetic outcomes.
Surgical glue typically consists of a liquid or semi-liquid compound that is applied to the edges of a wound. The adhesive then hardens or polymerizes upon contact with moisture, forming a strong bond that holds the edges of the wound together.
The bond created by surgical glue is generally strong enough to hold the wound closed during the initial stages of healing, after which the glue will eventually break down and be absorbed by the body.
There are several different types of surgical glue available, each with its own unique properties and applications. Some of the most commonly used surgical adhesives include cyanoacrylates, fibrin sealants, and polyurethane-based adhesives.
The specific type of adhesive used will depend on a number of factors, including the type and location of the wound, the patient’s medical history and condition, and the preferences of the surgeon.
Dissolve Glue in Hair
If your child has an open wound or open surgical incision site, make sure you communicate with the surgeon’s office and team as far as what to do.
The tips I offer below are for getting EEG glue out of hair. And yes, one of K’s neuro people suggested acetone. But you would never want to put acetone on an open wound.
How to Get Medical Glue Out of Hair
And I’ve saved the newest (and I hear best) tip for last. I haven’t had to try it yet because Kevin hasn’t had an EEG since I heard this tip. But she swears it came off super easy.
How to Get Glue out of Hair
- Heavy lotions or creams: I have used Formula 2, shown above. I generously slather it on, leaving it on as long as possible (at least an hour). I put a towel on pillowcase and let him sleep in it if I can. The next morning, the hunks of glue just combed out. I have also used the original Eucerin cream with the same effects.
- Heavy conditioner: Same as above. Leave on in tub for several minutes if you can, let them play or enjoy the shower. Then comb out while still using running warm water.
- Aspirin: Yes, really. Here’s a tip I got on epilepsy.com. To help you remove the glue from your hair after an E.E.G try this 5 to 7 aspirin crushed Half a cup hot water dissolve aspirin in water, 2 good size squirts of shampoo, 4 tablespoons witch hazel or Sea Breeze mix well all together. Massage thru wet hair and let sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. You can comb thru after allotted time has passed. Rinse and shampoo and condition as usual. Can be repeated if needed. This can also be done once a month to remove traces of medications from your hair. DO NOT NOT GET IN EYES! And I would not use on children under 10.
- Let it go: This solution only works if the child has short hair, but I’ve tried it and it does work. Depending on hair style preferences, this works great if you can shave the child’s head before hand. But, you can just let it naturally wear off. Kevin wears a seizure helmet most of the time anyway, so his head is covered. It took about a week. We just did our normal daily shower routine and it will naturally flake off. When it’s coming off it looks like peeling sunburn.
- Micellar Water: This is the best tip that I saved for last. My friend Jenny shared it with me and I can just imagine it. Her daughter was likely resisting getting worked on, and Jenny just grabbed…something, anything…in the bathroom and tried it. And it was micellar water and she swears it worked like a charm! I don’t use it myself, but now I have a bottle in the bathroom cabinet, just in case.
Do you have an unusual tip on how to remove EEG glue from hair? Let me know and I’ll add it!
