Dr. Greene logo

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

When a little boy gets his penis stuck in a zipper, it makes me cringe.

The August 2001 issue of Pediatric News contains a great tip from San Diego emergency room physician Dr. John Kanegaye: a plentiful coat of mineral oil on the injury eases the disengagement of skin from zipper.

I suspect it is also a little soothing in the meantime.

Dr. Kanegaye also recommends depilatory wax for removing cactus spines from the skin (hopefully other skin than the penis). Coat the entire area with wax, and then pull the whole thing off.

I love simple, practical solutions for minor emergencies that we see in the pediatric office.

Published on: August 24, 2001
About the Author

Alan Greene MD

Photo of Alan Greene MD
Dr. Greene is a practicing physician, author, national and international TEDx speaker, and global health advocate. He is a graduate of Princeton University and University of California San Francisco.
Get Dr. Greene's Wellness RecommendationsSignup now to get Dr. Greene's healing philosophy, insight into medical trends, parenting tips, seasonal highlights, and health news delivered to your inbox every month.
About Us
  • About DrGreene.com
  • Contact Us
  • Awards
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
Content
  • Dr. Greene's Blog
  • Recipes
  • Books by Dr. Greene
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
DrGreene logo

Our goal is to improve children's health by inspiring parents to become knowledgable partners who can work with their children's physicians in new and rich ways.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 1995 - 2025 DrGreene All Rights Reserved