Splinters are "foreign bodies" that somehow penetrate under the skin. Most people have experienced a small splinter of wood, but metal, glass, and some types of plastic can also enter human skin. Generally these fragments can be removed independently at home, but if they have entered deeply, especially in hard-to-reach places, then you must seek medical attention. Splinters that get under your fingernail or toenail are particularly difficult and painful to remove, but there are still several methods you can try at home.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Remove the Splinter with Tweezers
Step 1. Determine if you need to see a doctor
Splinters that go deep under the nail or become infected should be pulled out by a doctor. You can tell that an infection has developed if the area remains sore even after a few days, becomes red or swollen.
- If you experience severe and excessive bleeding, go to the emergency room to have the splinter removed.
- If the foreign body is stuck in a place you can't reach on your own or the surrounding skin appears to be infected, make an appointment with your GP. He will be able to extract the splinter and prescribe a course of antibiotics.
- In most cases, your doctor will give you light local anesthesia during the extraction, to numb the area and reduce the pain caused by the procedure.
- Be aware that the doctor may have to partially or completely remove the nail to reach the splinter.
Step 2. Remove the fragment yourself
If you have decided to go on your own at home, you will most likely need a pair of tweezers (the splinter may be too small to grasp with your fingers). If the splinter has penetrated completely into the skin and without leaving any external grip, you must use a needle to proceed with the extraction.
- Sterilize any tools you intend to use to extract the splinter. You can sanitize the tweezers and needles with rubbing alcohol or boiling water.
- Wash your hands before touching any sterile instruments.
- Wash the area and the nail where the splinter has penetrated before trying to remove it, this way you can prevent possible infections. If you don't have access to water and soap, you can use denatured alcohol.
- If you have long fingernails, you should shorten the one the splinter got under before proceeding. By doing so, you will have a better view of the area to be treated.
Step 3. Use tweezers to extract the fragment
Find a well-lit spot in the room to be able to see where the splinter has penetrated. Grasp the portion of the foreign body protruding from the skin using the tweezers. When you are sure you have a firm grip, pull it in the same direction in which it penetrated.
Splinters are usually fragments of wood, glass or other material; sometimes they break as you try to remove them from the skin. If you cannot remove it all by yourself, then you must visit the doctor who will proceed with the extraction
Step 4. Help yourself with a needle to reach a splinter that has completely penetrated the skin
Sometimes the fragments of material go that deep without leaving a portion exposed. This type of foreign body is difficult to remove without the help of a doctor, but you can try using a needle and exposing a piece of material that you can grasp with tweezers.
- You can use any sewing needle for this procedure, but remember to sterilize it beforehand.
- Push the needle under the nail towards the end of the splinter and use it to pry on it.
- If you can expose a good portion of the fragment, you can grab it with tweezers and pull it out by pulling in the same direction it entered.
Step 5. Wash the area with great care
After removing the splinter completely or partially, wash your nail with soap and water. Finally, you can apply an antibiotic cream to prevent an infection.
You can also decide to protect the site with a patch in case it bleeds or if you are concerned that the area will become infected later
Method 2 of 2: Use other Removal Techniques
Step 1. Dip your finger in hot water and baking soda
Splinters that have penetrated deep under the nail or that are too small to grasp with tweezers should be forced out with hot water and baking soda.
- Soak your finger in hot water, in which you have dissolved a tablespoon of baking soda. You have to repeat this procedure twice a day for it to be effective.
- It may take several days of treatment for the splinter to get close enough to the skin surface to be grasped with tweezers or for it to fall out on its own.
Step 2. Use duct tape
This is another splinter extraction technique that turns out to be quite simple. Put duct tape on the exposed portion of the splinter and then quickly tear it off.
- The type of tape is not important; however, the transparent one allows you to better see the fragment of material, should it be necessary.
- Sometimes part of the nail has to be cut to get better access to the splinter.
Step 3. Use hair removal wax
It is very difficult to grasp the thin splinters with tweezers. An alternative to extract them from under the nails is represented by wax for hair removal. Thanks to its viscous texture, you can shape it around the exposed portion of the fragment.
- Part of the nail may need to be cut to get good access to the splinter.
- Apply hot wax around the foreign body. Make sure that the part that protrudes from the skin is well covered.
- Place a strip of fabric over the wax before it hardens.
- Grab one end of the strip and quickly tear it off.
Step 4. Test the ichthyol to extract the splinter
This ointment-like product is capable of removing splinters under the nails and is available in drugstores and online as well. Its emollient action on the skin allows the natural expulsion of the foreign body.
- It may be necessary to cut the nail to reach the site where the splinter is located.
- This is a great method to use with children, as it is less painful and less annoying.
- Apply a small amount of ichthyol to the skin where the fragment has entered.
- Cover or wrap the area with a bandage and wait 24 hours. Remember that this ointment stains fabrics (clothes and sheets), so make sure that the bandage covers the entire affected area and that the ichthyol cannot escape.
- After 24 hours, remove the dressing and check the splinter.
- The purpose of this method is to ensure that the foreign body is expelled in a natural way. However, if this doesn't happen after a day, but the splinter has become more accessible, you can give it a try with tweezers.
Step 5. Make a baking soda paste
This home remedy is a valid alternative to ichthyol. You should only use it if the other techniques have not brought the desired results, as it may create some swelling which in turn would make the extraction more difficult.
- It may be necessary to cut the nail completely or partially to get better access to the splinter.
- Mix a pinch of baking soda with the water until a thick paste is created.
- Apply the mixture to the area to be treated and then cover it with a bandage.
- After 24 hours, remove the dressing and inspect the splinter.
- The dough should be able to naturally expel the splinter. If 24 hours is not enough, you can spread more dough for another 24 hours.
- If the fragment is exposed enough, you can use tweezers to pull it out completely.
Advice
- Sometimes subungual hemorrhages take the form of a vertical streak that suggests the presence of a splinter. In reality it is not a foreign body, but a disorder with various causes, including trauma and mitral stenosis.
- In general, splinters of organic material (wood, thorns and so on) tend to become infected if they are not removed from the skin. Conversely, splinters of inorganic material (glass or metal) rarely develop infections when not extracted.
