Butterfly bandages are used to draw two sides of a small (up to 1 inch) cut together so that the wound will heal with a minimum of scar tissue. Apply one side of the butterfly first.
Then tug gently as you apply the second side, checking to be sure the edges of the cut meet and align. The pressure should be sufficient to close the cut but not so strong that the edges of the cut curl inward. You can make an emergency butterfly by cutting a small adhesive bandage.
A doctor should see a cut that is more than 1 inch long, a deep cut across a finger joint, or a cut that is potentially disfiguring-for example, a cut on the lip or nose or through an eyebrow. Use a butterfly bandage on the cut until you can get medical care.