What are butterfly bandages?

Butterfly bandages pull the perimeter of a wound together enabling an incision to heal without a gap and without dividing the skin. First aid experts at About.com report that butterfly bandages are appropriate for the immediate treatment of small lacerations.

The aptly named butterfly bandage resembles the shape of the insect as it has two square "wings" and a significantly smaller "body." The center folds away from the wound to allow the injury to heal. According to WebMD, these bandages are simple to make and can be very effective in temporarily closing a wound that may require further medical attention.