How to Remove a Sliver or Thorn

Kids get a lot of splinters.

Slivers and thorns can work their way deep into your skin and cause a great amount of discomfort for their size. They're fairly easy to remove, although the method you use depends on whether the end is sticking up or embedded in your skin. The most important consideration is to use clean hands and equipment. If you can't remove the thorn or splinter on your own, see a doctor.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• soap and water
• tweezers
• rubbing alcohol
• antibiotic ointment
• adhesive bandage
• sewing needle
• magnifying glass (optional)

If the Sliver or Thorn Is Sticking out of Your Skin

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.

2. Clean the tweezers, preferably with rubbing alcohol. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, you may use soap and water instead, according to MayoClinic.com.

3. Use a magnifying glass to see the splinter better, if you need help seeing what you're doing.

4. Grip the end of the splinter firmly but gently with the tweezers and pull out the thorn or splinter.

5. Clean the area with soap and water, and then apply antibiotic ointment and a bandage.

If the Sliver or Thorn Is Embedded in Your Skin

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.

2. Clean the tweezers and the sewing needle, preferably with rubbing alcohol. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, you may use soap and water instead, according to MayoClinic.com.

3. Use a magnifying glass to see the area better, if you need help seeing what you're doing.

4. Slide the needle, as shallowly as possible, under one end of the sliver or thorn, and pull up. The idea is to break the topmost layers of skin and pull the top of the splinter up so that the tweezers will be able to grip it. Repeat this step as often as necessary, until a bit of the sliver or thorn is exposed.

5. Grip the end of the splinter firmly but gently with the tweezers and pull out the thorn or splinter.

6. Clean the area with soap and water, and then apply antibiotic ointment and a bandage.

Tips & Warnings

• If the sliver or thorn is very deep, you will need to seek medical attention. A good rule of thumb is this: When you are poking your skin shallowly with the needle, it should not bleed, because you should be poking only at the topmost "dead" layers of skin. If the splinter is so deep that you cannot remove it without drawing blood, ask a medical professional for help removing it.

• If the splinter is embedded and you can't see the end of it, you can still use this method. In that case, you can still use the needle to shallowly break open the top layers of your skin. Do this as close as possible to the spot where the sliver or thorn entered.

• If the area continues to hurt or starts to show signs of infection -- redness, heat, swelling, or increasing pain -- seek medical attention.

References

• MayoClinic.com: Foreign Object in the Skin:First Aid
• MedlinePlus: Splinter Removal