I went to buy adhesive bandages at the drugstore but was overwhelmed by the four shelves of choices. What is the best product for a superficial cut? Do I even need any kind of bandage for that?

We asked Kath M. Bogie, D.Phil., Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, to weigh in. (D.Phil. is the Oxford equivalent to Ph.D.) Her take: “The great majority of minor wounds will heal without complication and with minimal scarring as long as the wound is kept clean and covered. Contrary to what your mother may have told you, we now understand that drying out a wound and creating a scab isn’t the best. A happy medium is a wound that is not too wet and not too dry. The choice of bandage material depends on several factors, including sensitivity to bandage adhesive, whether the skin around the wound is hairy or smooth (which affects adhesion), and how much movement there is under the bandage. It is also good to minimize the number of times the bandage needs to be changed.”

The Band-Aid website has a page that helps consumers choose an adhesive bandage based on the size of the wound (from under a ½ inch to 3½ inches), where it’s located (such as your finger, toe, knee, or elbow), your activity level (will the injured area be subjected to a lot of movement?), and how wet the area will get throughout the day.

Not surprisingly, the webpage directs consumers to one of its own products, when there are many other brands and generics to choose from. With that said, here are some of the types of products and claims you will encounter on store shelves.

• Adhesive bandages claiming to be waterproof. This really means water resistant. According to Dr. Bogie, “A water-resistant bandage is generally a good choice because it can stay in place for longer. It may stay adhered if the wound area is exposed to moisture for a short time but rarely stays in place if immersed in water for a long time.”
• Bandages with an antibacterial or antiseptic, like Neosporin ointment. Dr. Bogie says these provide “little to no benefit for an acute minor wound once it has been cleansed.” In fact, she says, using an antibacterial bandage may create a false sense of security such that you might neglect proper wound hygiene, and this could enable bacteria to flourish. Also, people can get allergic reactions to the antibiotics, and they breed resistant organisms. The real reason small wounds seem to heal better with antibiotic ointments is the ointment, not the antibiotic. The American Academy of Dermatology does not recommend applying antibiotics to minor wounds but rather recommends using petroleum jelly or similar to help healing.
• Bandages with a layer of soft foam. These may be useful if you will be putting any kind of pressure on the wound area as you go about your daily activities and need a bit of cushioning over it to make it less painful. But these bandages tend to be less flexible than those without cushioning.
• Bandages made with plastic or fabric material. In deciding which material to buy, consider such factors as flexibility, breathability, and adhesive strength. Lightweight fabric bandages stretch a bit so they contour well to the body, and they breathe well so you are not sweating under it—but they readily absorb water and so can get soaked when you shower or bathe. Plastic bandages tend to be cheaper, and they don’t absorb water as much—but they are not as breathable or as flexible as fabric ones and may not work well on a body part that moves a lot, like a knuckle. Bandages made with a heavy fabric and what’s known in the industry as an “aggressive” adhesive might be good for individuals who work with their hands, for example, to protect the wound from becoming dirty or greasy, or if they sweat a lot.

But in the end, it’s really a matter of trial and error to find what bandage material works best for you as well as whether a particular bandage’s adhesive sticks well to your skin but can still be easily removed when you need to change the bandage. After all, if you have thin skin (as many older people tend to have) or sensitive skin (such as from eczema), or if you are on anti-clotting medication (which makes skin bruise easily), you probably wouldn’t do well with a bandage that has a heavy-duty adhesive, since that would pull excessively on the skin when you try to remove it.

You should also consider bandages of different shapes and sizes to ensure that the wound will stay well covered. A cut on your knuckle or finger, for example, needs a different type of bandage than a wound on your knee or arm. If your cut is as large as a lemon, a jumbo-size bandage is in order.

Whether to buy clear bandages, bandages that match your skin tone, or decorative bandages (with Baby Shark, Hello Kitty, or Disney Princesses, for example) is a personal preference—though these options may not provide all the other characteristics you need or want in a bandage.

BOTTOM LINE: When navigating the adhesive bandage shelves at the store or searching online, you may want to opt for a variety pack that has bandages in different sizes and shapes, so you are set for whatever cuts may come. Forgo those with antibiotics/antiseptics. Otherwise, look for products that suit your specific needs and lifestyle, are comfortable, and adhere well without adversely affecting your skin.