Direct comparison
Mastisol vs Dermabond: Different Jobs Compared
Mastisol vs Dermabond side by side from IFU and FDA records: dressing adhesive vs wound-closure adhesive, sterility, Rx vs OTC and allergy cautions.
Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
Ask CASRAI · free to try
Ask about Mastisol vs Dermabond: Different Jobs Compared
Ask your first 2 questions free below. Subscribers get 150 a day for $29 a month.
An AI assistant specialized in research administration. It cites the sources behind every answer, labels web answers and says when it can't answer.
Answers draw on CASRAI's guides and dictionary plus the federal and funder documents we index: Federal Register, Grants.gov, Regulations.gov and UKRI.
Works on this site and inside Claude, Cursor and the AI tools you already use.
Everything CASRAI publishes — this page, the dictionary, the guides and the news — stays free to read, with no account and no card.
How do Mastisol, Dermabond (Advanced) compare side by side?
The table below compares Mastisol, Dermabond (Advanced) across 12 procurement-relevant dimensions, from job on the label through source.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Mastisol | Dermabond (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|
| Job on the label | Liquid medical adhesive used to ensure the integrity of dressings, tapes and certain devices over an extended period of time. | Sterile, liquid topical skin adhesive for closing skin; the polymerized film holds the approximated wound edges. |
| Active material named on the label | Gum mastic, styrax liquid, SD alcohol 23A and methyl salicylate. | 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (monomer) with the colorant D&C Violet No. 2. |
| Where the label shows it used | Central line and peripheral IV dressings, a catheter anchor device, an endotracheal tube. | Skin wound edges that are approximated after the wound has been cleaned and prepared by a clinician; the film is not for use below the skin. |
| Skin condition | The leaflet says to avoid non-intact skin. | Meant for a prepared, dry wound; the IFU says not to apply it to wet wounds, mucosal surfaces, mucocutaneous junctions or skin with dense natural hair such as the scalp. |
| FDA product code and regulation | Product code KGX, "Tape and Bandage, Adhesive"; exempt from premarket submission (AccessGUDID record, checked 2026-10-30). | Product code MPN, 21 CFR 878.4010, "Tissue Adhesive for the Topical Approximation of Skin"; 510(k) K152096, decision 10/22/2015 (substantially equivalent). |
| Who may buy it (as labeled) | Listed as over the counter. | IFU: federal (U.S.A.) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a licensed healthcare practitioner. |
| Sterility and use | Listed as not sterile and single-use. | Supplied sterile, packaged for single patient use; the IFU says do not resterilize and do not place it in a procedure pack or tray that will be sterilized before use. |
| Allergy cautions on the label | Irritant or allergic-type reactions have been reported, especially in patients who previously developed sensitivity to benzoin or other adhesive components. | Do not use on patients with a known hypersensitivity to cyanoacrylate, formaldehyde or benzalkonium chloride. |
| Handling cautions on the label | Flammable; for external use only; avoid contact with the eyes. | Store below 30 C (86 F), away from moisture, direct heat and direct light. Liquid or ointment medications on the closed wound can weaken the film. |
| What happens to the adhesive | Sits under the tape or dressing for the period the dressing stays on; this page does not cover removal. | The film sloughs off naturally, usually in 5-10 days, according to the IFU. |
| When to pick each | The job is keeping a dressing, tape or device attached to intact skin: the Mastisol category. Follow the leaflet and your facility's protocol. | The job is topical closure of a skin wound by a clinician: the Dermabond category, with the product ordered through a licensed practitioner. Neither product replaces the other. |
| Source | Eloquest Healthcare Mastisol instructions leaflet MA41 4/12; FDA AccessGUDID record (checked 2026-10-30). Read 2026-11-01. | Ethicon DERMABOND ADVANCED Instructions for Use PM72434E (rev. 12/2015); FDA 510(k) database K152096. Read 2026-11-01. |
Common questions
Common questions about Mastisol vs Dermabond (Advanced)
Is Mastisol the same as Dermabond?
+
No. Mastisol is a liquid adhesive for holding tape, dressings and certain devices on intact skin. Dermabond is a sterile topical skin adhesive (2-octyl cyanoacrylate) used by clinicians to close skin wounds. They carry different FDA product codes (KGX versus MPN).
Can Mastisol be used instead of Dermabond?
+
Neither label presents one as a replacement for the other. The Mastisol leaflet describes securing dressings, tapes and devices and says to avoid non-intact skin, while the Dermabond IFU describes closing a prepared wound. Questions about a specific wound belong with a licensed clinician.
Do Mastisol and Dermabond need a prescription?
+
As labeled, Dermabond carries a federal restriction to sale by or on the order of a licensed healthcare practitioner. Mastisol is listed in the FDA database as over the counter.
Is Mastisol sterile like Dermabond?
+
Dermabond is supplied sterile for single patient use. The FDA AccessGUDID record checked for Mastisol lists it as not sterile.
Which allergies matter for each product?
+
The Dermabond IFU lists known hypersensitivity to cyanoacrylate, formaldehyde or benzalkonium chloride. The Mastisol leaflet notes reactions reported in people previously sensitive to benzoin or other adhesive components. Anyone with such a history should ask a clinician before use.
Going deeper
