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In chemistry, a solvent is a substance used to dissolve other substances. The general rule is "like dissolves like"; thus you need an organic chemical to dissolve an organic compound. That is why water, which is inorganic (meaning it has no carbon), probably didn't remove the goop.
Apply isopropyl alcohol, which is inexpensive, readily available and virtually harmless to the skin. Soak a cotton ball and place it against the adhesive. Hold the cotton in position for 60 seconds and then rub the area briskly to remove the glue. If isopropyl alcohol did not work, head to the hardware department and grab a bottle of denatured alcohol. This is harsher on the skin, but dissolves most adhesives.
Wash your hands well once you have removed all the glue and apply a liberal coat of hand lotion to counteract any drying effects of the solvent. -
Oils lubricate the skin and create a surface that's difficult for adhesive to bond to, which one reason you must thoroughly cleaned the skin before applying a bandage. In a reversal of this situation, oils can be applied to loosen an adhesive.
Rub the affected area with baby oil, olive oil, mineral oil or plain vegetable oil. Soak your skin for five minutes and wipe the oil away with a clean cloth. Repeat if necessary. Although less effective than using a solvent, this method causes less skin irritation. - If you accidentally spill Super Glue or Crazy Glue on your skin, take immediate action. Swab the affected area with a cotton ball that has been soaked in a nail polish remover containing acetone. The acetone will dissolve the bonds of the glue on contact.
