House Grooming

How to Remove a Splinter?

Splinters can cause swelling, pain and possible infection if they're not removed promptly.

• Try to make an attempt to slowly take out the splinter by smoothly squeezing your fingertips over or on each side of it and if this does not work, try the following steps.
• Clean a pair of tweezers, a needle, and a small pair of nail clippers with isopropyl alcohol or Betadine solution and let it air-dry. Do remember to clean the pinching surfaces of the tweezers and the cutting edges of the nail clippers.
• If you're concerned about causing pain, rub the splinter site with a numbing teething gel or ice before removing the splinter. Always remember that however, that chilling the area may cause the splinter to retract from the top of the skin and may make its removal more challenging.
• With the help of the tip of the needle, make a small hole in the skin above the splinter and once you have access to the splinter, gently try to squeeze it through the hole. In case if it is needed than increase the size of the hole with the needle. Always keep in mind to use your tweezers to pull out the splinter as soon as you can get hold of it.
• After all this if your are still not successful in opening a path for the splinter with the needle, use the nail clippers very carefully to cut away the skin above the splinter.
• Always use soap or any gel and water, or Betadine, to wash the skin where the splinter has lodged.
• Soften the skin by soaking the infected area in warm water to soften the skin if you have trouble getting access to the splinter although most splinters eventually work themselves out on their own.
• If the child is shouting of pain or is reluctant in cooperating you to take out the splinter, rub the splinter site with a numbing teething gel or ice before removing splinter, this would provide a good comfort to the child as chilling the area will cause the splinter to retract from the top of the skin, however, and may make splinter removal more challenging.

Do's & Don'ts

• Never dig at a splinter for longer than 10 minutes and if you are not able to remove the splinter within that amount of time, see your doctor, because many times, too much poking and prodding will lead to tissue damage.
• You should make sure to take tetanus vaccine. In case a splinter comes in contact with dirt or animal dung before it punctures your skin, it could be most likely carrying the tetanus bacteria.
• In case of any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet.
• Before you make use of a needle or tweezer, try using cellophane tape to remove a splinter. Just remember to put the tape over the splinter, then pull the tape off and if tape doesn't work:
• First wash your hands well with soap and water and then grasp the end of the splinter with clean tweezers, and gently pull it out.