Splinter removal might not be a broken bone, but splinters can still be painful! These little slivers of wood, metal, or other materials get up under your skin and make themselves a nuisance.
In order to be considered a splinter, the object has to be a smaller piece of a large item. It embeds itself in the tissue somewhere in your body. From there, if you don’t remove it soon, the tiny object can cause big problems.
Most people want to get rid of splinters because they hurt. Even a painless foreign object lodged in your body needs to go, though. How to get a splinter out without causing stress and more pain is the trick.
Signs of a Splinter
If you’re not sure you’re dealing with a splinter but you know there’s something not quite right, there are a few signs to look for. A splinter shows up as a small line or a speck under your skin. Most of the time, it’ll be on your hands or feet, as these body parts are more exposed.
When you feel like something is stuck under your skin and/or there is pain at the site, there’s probably a splinter. Chances are, you’ll see the splinter. If it’s been there too long, you’ll also start to notice signs of infection, like redness, warmth, and swelling.
Remedies for splinter removal
Waiting too long to remove the splinter will likely result in a painful infection that can turn dangerous. It’s best to get rid of the problem as soon as you can. These four quick and easy methods will work on almost everyone.
- The Tweezer Twist – The most common method of splinter removal requires nothing but some tweezers and hydrogen peroxide. You can try to pull the splinter out with the tweezers alone. If it’s too far under the surface, though, the peroxide comes in handy.
To remove the splinter, pour a little peroxide over the area. The bubbles will gradually push the splinter to the surface and out of your skin. As soon as you can see it, use the tweezers to pull it out completely.
- Make it Sticky – Pulling the splinter up and out of your skin with an adhesive, like tape, works if you can see the edge. All you have to do is put a piece of tape across the splinter. Gently pull the tape up opposite the way the splinter entered your skin, if possible. The splinter should come up with the adhesive.
If you don’t have any tape around, glue works, too! Spread some liquid glue over the splinter area. Let it dry, and use your fingernail or tweezers to peel the dried substance off your skin. The splinter should leave your body with the glue.
- Use Natural Methods – Deep splinters may need more than glue, tape, and tweezers can do. It may need a little help to be pulled closer to the surface first.
Drawing out a splinter with produce isn’t an old wives’ tale. Take a small chunk of onions or potatoes and use a clean cloth or bandage to hold it tight along the splinter area. Leave it on overnight, and when you wake up, the splinter should be ready to remove!
- Baking Soda Paste – If you don’t have a potato or onion on hand, or you don’t want to sleep with it secured to your body, there are other options. Using a tablespoon of baking soda mixed with a tablespoon of water, you can make a paste that works, too.
Once you’ve made the paste, cover the area around the splinter with it. Put a large bandage over the area, making sure it sticks. Leave it there for 24 hours. When you pull the bandage off, the splinter should be at the surface. Now, you can pull it out with tweezers.
How to Treat a Splinter Injury
- Cleanup the wound
- Check how long the injury
- Remove the splinter by above remedies
When should you seek help
- If you are not able to take out the splinter then without delay consult the doctor.
- After removing the splinter of the skin pains or becomes red.
- The splinter appears to be splinter.
