A while back Hubby Tony told me he had misplaced his styptic pencil (which he uses to stop the bleeding from shaving nicks) and asked me to add it to the grocery list. I was happy to oblige. However, I could not find styptic pencils in any stores. Tony joined in the hunt and also came up empty handed.
I checked some online retailers. They had styptic pencils, but they either came in packages that were larger than we needed or were very expensive. One day on a website dedicated to shaving I read a discussion about styptic powder as an alternative to pencils. A poster suggested buying it from a pet store. Evidently it's a common remedy used by groomers for blood due to clipping nails, and other superficial cuts and scratches
I checked with my local pet store-they had it in stock-and I picked it up the next time I was in the area.
Tony used the powder and said it worked just like a pencil would have. Some time later I was shaving my legs and ended up with a cut on my shin. I wondered if the styptic powder would work for me, too, and decided to try it out. I followed the directions, which said to "Apply with moistened cotton tip applicator to the cut, nail, or other superficial bleeding area using moderate consistent pressure for five to ten seconds". The powder stung like crazy for a few seconds, but the bleeding stopped immediately.
Five years ago today: My Trash Is Your Treasure
Interesting to learn of this powder.
ReplyDeletei remember years ago when my dad used to have toilet tissue pieces on his face from nicks.
ReplyDeleteThat was my old default for dealing with my own shaving nicks. Now I have a new one :-)
DeleteA styptic pencil in my parent's medicine cabinet was a fixture for sure! Good to know this powder exists. I wonder if it wouldn't work on the scratches and skin tears my hubby and I seem to be getting more often as we age. Thin skin!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you're on to something. If it works let us know.
DeleteI hadn't heard of this prior to reading your post. I might try to find some for my Dad. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteGood to know.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing! I've never heard of this. You know what? I don't have to shave my legs much anymore. Strange. The older I get my legs are almost hairless.
ReplyDeleteI can only hope that my legs to the same thing.
DeleteInteresting to know that this powder exists. My current pup has mixed black and white nails but...my previous dog had all black nails and I cut her to the quick frequently. Poor dog. Traumatic for me also. I used styptic pencil sometimes but my vet told me flour works on dogs nails. It does, FYI. I wonder if flour works on people cuts also. Good to know the powder is available from pet stores.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to know about the flour. I'll have to experiment with that some time.
DeleteThey use this in the feral cat spay neuter clinics after "tipping" the right ear, as a universal sign a cat is fixed (left ear tipped on east coast, for some reason).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information.
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