Styptic pencil

A styptic or hemostatic pencil is a short stick of medication, usually anhydrous aluminum sulfate (a type of alum) or titanium dioxide, which is used for stanching blood by causing blood vessels to contract at the site of the wound.

Before safety razors were invented, it was an essential part of a shaving kit and was used to seal cuts caused by improper shaving. Some people continue to use styptic pencils for minor skin wounds from safety or electric razors.

Styptic pencils are also useful for stopping the flow of blood if you accidentally cut into the quick when trimming a cat or dog's claws. While effective at stopping blood loss, some who use it feel that the sting of the medication as it takes effect can be worse than the pain of the cut itself. More "natural" ingredients such as aloe add a "more soothing alternative".

A frequent source of confusion appears to be the difference between styptic and caustic pencils which are not used to staunch minor cuts.