Technically, this should have been titled the best "wound care," but that sounded too yucky.  And while one of my favorite adhesive bandages is a Band-Aid branded product, if you’re still buying the same old Band-Aids, you’re missing out on some really advanced wound care.  Here are my favorites. 

Curad Hydro Heal bandages incorporate advanced medical technology that outperforms, outflexes, and outlasts ordinary bandages. They create a 100% waterproof seal and keep the wound moist while they absorb exudate. Band-Aid Advanced Healing makes a similar product, in special shapes for finger wounds. They’re expensive, but worth it when water resistance is important.

Nexcare Waterproof Bandages, developed by those smart folks at 3M, are the mainstay of my first-aid kit.  Ultra-thin, clear and breathable, they’re a little less waterproof, and a lot less expensive than the above bandages, but less noticeable, more comfortable and more effective than standard bandages.  Would you expect any less from the folks who really did invent Post-Its?

Seal-on Blotters are packaged like breath strips, but they form a soft gel-like protective layer upon contact with blood, which stops bleeding quickly. It’s kind of like a styptic pencil, but much more effective.

Ever get your skin stuck together with super glue? That’s the concept behind Nexcare Cracked Heel Care. More skin-friendly than actually using super glue, this is a great treatment for cracked heels and slit-like cuts.