The History of Band-Aid: From Household Necessity to Global Icon

The Band-Aid brand of adhesive bandages was invented in 1920 by Earle Dickson, an American cotton buyer for Johnson & Johnson. Dickson's wife, Josephine, was frequently cutting and burning herself while cooking and he wanted to create a way to protect her injuries. He experimented with different materials and eventually developed a small, sterile adhesive bandage that could be easily applied to wounds.

Dickson's invention was originally called the "Band-Aid Curad" and was first sold in 1921. The name was later shortened to "Band-Aid" and the product quickly became a household staple. Today, Band-Aid is one of the most recognizable brands in the world and is sold in over 100 countries.