How to Remove a Splinter

Introduction

Splinters can cause pain, swelling and possible infection if they're not removed promptly. In case you get one the next time you are around an aggressive piece of wood, here's how to safely remove it.

By: eHow Health Editor

Length: 1:24

Comments: 35

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Moderate

Tips & Warnings:

Soak the infected area in warm water to soften the skin if you have trouble getting access to the splinter.
Most splinters eventually work themselves out on their own.
If you're having difficulty removing the splinter and it's taking you more than a few minutes, wipe the site again with antiseptic solution to continually sterilize the site.
Do not dig at a splinter for longer than 10 minutes. If you've been unable to remove the splinter within that amount of time, see your doctor. Too much poking and prodding will lead to tissue damage.
Be sure you are current on your tetanus vaccine. If a splinter comes in contact with dirt or animal dung before it punctures your skin, it could potentially be carrying the tetanus bacteria.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Step1

Try to "milk" out the splinter by gently squeezing your fingertips on each side of it. If this doesn't work, try the following steps.

Step2

If you're worried about causing pain, rub the splinter site with a numbing teething gel or ice before removing the splinter. Keep in mind, however, that chilling the area may cause the splinter to retract from the top of the skin and may make its removal more challenging.

Step3

Clean a needle, a pair of tweezers and a small pair of nail clippers with isopropyl alcohol and let it air-dry. Be sure to swab the pinching surfaces of the tweezers and the cutting edges of the nail clippers.

Step4

Use soap and water, or antiseptic solution, to wash the skin where the splinter has lodged itself.

Step5

With the tip of the needle, make a small hole in the skin above the splinter. Once you have access to the splinter, gently try to squeeze it through the hole. If necessary, increase the size of the hole with the needle. Use your tweezers to pull out the splinter as soon as you can get hold of it.

Step6

If you're not able to open a path for the splinter with the needle, use the nail clippers very carefully to cut away the skin above the splinter.

Comments

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jojojojojo said

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on 11/12/2008 jo: There is a very very fine and small object stuck deep down into the left side of my left foot breast, which in i am not able to remove despite all the probing, the use of needle, immersing my leg into water, squeezing, peeling of surrounding skin etc... i find it hard to walk properly as there seems to be a little infeection, morever it hurts to do anything of the above. The fine "thing" has been stuck inside mmy leg for 5 days... and i have absolutely no idea how to relieve both the pain and the "thing". Am thinking of using wood glue on the area, in hope that it will come off upon peeling the glue... But i'm also afraid of the possibility of infection... Can someone experience out there help me??

jojojojojo said

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angelofdarkness said

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on 11/12/2008 thank you so much. i'm only 12 and i HATE pain. i didn't use the numbing stuff or any ice i just clipped away some skin and took it out with the pointy side of tweezers. thank you so much!