Splinters are a very annoying problem that occurs quite often among children and adults. They can cause pain, irritation, and even infections. They typically consist of wood, glass or metal. In some cases it is possible to remove them at home using commonly used tools or products, but those that penetrate deeply may require medical intervention.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Use a Tool to Remove a Deep Splinter
Step 1. Use a pair of tweezers
If you see part of the splinter on the surface, try removing it with tweezers. Choose a pair with a serrated edge. Grasp the end firmly and slowly pull it out.
- Sterilize the tweezers before using them. Rub them with alcohol or vinegar, boil them in water for a few minutes, or hold them over a flame for about a minute.
- Wash your hands before trying to remove the splinter.
Step 2. Use a nail clipper if the splinter is thicker
If it has a sizable diameter and is consistent enough, a sturdy, sterilized nail clipper is a great alternative to tweezers. If it has penetrated at a very oblique angle in an area where the skin is quite hard, make a small cut to be able to extract it - for example, you will not hurt yourself by cutting the skin of the heel because in this point the sensitivity is lower than in the points where the epidermis is thinnest.
- Cut the skin parallel to the splinter.
- Don't overdo it otherwise blood could come out. A deep wound increases the risk of infections.
- When using tweezers or nail clippers, possibly hold the tool with your dominant hand (obviously you can't follow this advice if the foreign body is in your dominant hand), to have more control.
Step 3. Use a needle to pry and move the splinter
If it is entirely under the skin, you must use a sterilized needle or pin to dig and partially bring it to the surface. Try lifting it with the tip of the needle so that you can grab it with tweezers or nail clippers.
Avoid discovering it completely because there is a risk that it will break and make the situation worse
Step 4. Consider using a special ointment
It is a particular compound with disinfectant properties able to move deeply stuck splinters, favoring a natural emergence thanks to its lubricating power. Once it is smeared, you have to wait about a day before it can bring the foreign body to the surface. In the meantime, cover the wound with a bandage and be patient.
- One of the most common substances contained in this type of ointment is ichthyol, available in pharmacies without a prescription.
- These are fatty products that give off a rather unpleasant odor.
- In most cases the ointment only brings the splinter to the surface, so you still need to use tweezers to pull it out.
Step 5. Try putting baking soda on the wound
Not only is it a great disinfectant, but it slows bleeding and helps bring out the foreign body. If it is a piece of glass, metal or plastic, soak the affected area in a solution consisting of hot water and a few teaspoons of baking soda and wait an hour. If the splinter is made of wood, prepare a thick paste with bicarbonate and a little water and spread it on the wound, then cover it with a plaster and wait until the following morning.
However, you will need to use tweezers or nail clippers to completely remove the foreign body
Method 2 of 4: Take Care of the Wound After Extraction of the Splinter
Step 1. Stop any blood leaking
If a small bleeding occurs after the splinter is pulled out, apply some pressure with a clean cotton ball for a few minutes or until the blood stops flowing.
Step 2. Disinfect the area
After removing the fragment, clean the lesion. Wash it with warm soapy water, then dry it with a clean cloth and dab a wipe moistened with alcohol. The latter is a great disinfectant, but vinegar, iodine and hydrogen peroxide are equally effective.
- If you don't have alcohol wipes, you can use a cotton ball or a cotton swab dipped in denatured alcohol.
- It might burn a little, but it only lasts a moment.
Step 3. Apply antibiotic ointment
A bacitracin, polymycin B, and neomycin ointment, such as Neosporin, can help prevent infections. Put a small amount on the clean wound. You can buy it at the pharmacy.
Step 4. Cover the wound
Once cleaned and disinfected, let it air dry. Put on a small bandage to protect it from dirt and irritation. You will be able to remove it after 1-2 days.
Method 3 of 4: Take Precautions
Step 1. Don't squeeze the affected area
It may be a gut reaction, but when the fragment goes deep you need to avoid applying finger pressure along the edges of the wound in an attempt to push it out. It is a method that rarely works, indeed it risks shattering the foreign body, aggravating the situation.
Step 2. Do not get the wood splinters wet
If the splinter is wooden, avoid moistening it as it may crack as you try to pull it out, leaving smaller bits under the skin.
Step 3. Remove the splinter with clean hands
Avoid getting an infection. Just as you disinfect any tools you intend to use, so you must wash your hands with soap and water before touching the area affected by the wound. Soap for at least 30 seconds with an antibacterial product and rinse thoroughly.
Step 4. Remove all splinter
Make sure you don't break it and don't leave any fragments in the skin as they increase the risk of infections. Try to pull it out while keeping the same angle it entered to prevent it from breaking. It is rare for a splinter to penetrate perfectly perpendicular.
Step 5. Look for signs of an infection
It can develop regardless of the type of splinter, the part of the body where it has penetrated and the depth. For these reasons, be on your guard in the two days following the draw. Common symptoms include localized swelling, redness, increased tenderness, purulent discharge, numbness, and tingling around the wound.
More serious symptoms that indicate a systemic spread of infection include fever, nausea, night sweats, body aches, headaches, and confusion. In this case, seek medical help right away
Method 4 of 4: Know When To See Your Doctor
Step 1. See your doctor if do-it-yourself methods don't work
If you have tried some home remedies and have not been able to extract the splinter, do not wait more than two days before going to your doctor and having it removed. You can't leave it stuck.
If it breaks while still trapped in the skin, see your doctor to get it out
Step 2. Seek medical help for deep wounds or profuse bleeding
See your doctor if the splinter has caused a severe injury that it won't stop bleeding despite at least 5 minutes of pressure. He will probably have to use special tools to get it out.
- If he has to cut the skin with a scalpel, he will first numb the affected area.
- If it is a large wound, it is very likely that it will need to be sutured once the splinter is removed.
Step 3. See your doctor if you have a splinter under your nail
In this case, it is almost impossible for you to be able to remove it yourself. You shouldn't even try it because you risk making the situation worse. The doctor is able to remove a part of the nail in total safety and thus extract the splinter.
The nail will grow back normally
Step 4. Go to the emergency room if it got into an eye or around the eyes
If it gets into one eye, cover it up and call for emergency assistance immediately. Never try to remove it as you could damage the bulb and compromise your vision. Try keeping both eyes closed until help arrives, trying to move the injured one as little as possible.
Advice
- Wood splinters, plant thorns, quills, and other plant materials cause greater irritation and a more violent inflammatory reaction than glass, metal, and plastic fragments.
- If the foreign body is quite small and you have trouble seeing it, use a magnifying glass. If you have trouble holding it, ask a friend or family member for help.
