A splinter may just be a sliver of wood wedged into your skin, but it sure does cause a great amount of pain! Fortunately, it is not severe and does not call for a visit to the doctor. There are a number of resources on how to get a splinter out at home. However, the moment you get a splinter, you should carry out the following steps as first aid:
Here, we will discuss the various methods on how to remove a splinter(1). Here are a few tried and tested ways:
Here are a few excellent home remedies for how to remove a deep splinter:
When you think of how to take out a splinter, baking soda is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. However, you can use baking soda effectively to draw out a wood splinter. Here’s how:
On the application of baking soda, the splinter gets pushed to the surface and becomes easy to remove. Once on the surface, you can remove it using tweezers.
Once it enough to draw out the splinter.
[ Read: All About Baking Soda : Health Benefits & Uses ]
If you’re wondering how to draw out a splinter, then Epsom salt will come to your rescue.
Read on to know how to remove a splinter with Epsom salt.
Soaking your body in Epsom salt causes the skin to shrivel up. Additionally, Epsom salt pushes the splinter to the surface, which makes it easier to extract. Since soaking helps you reach in tough spots, it is also very effective when you are looking for remedies for how to get a splinter out of your foot.
NOTE : You can also soak a bandage pad in some Epsom salt solution and apply it over the affected region. Bandage it for about 24 hours and remove it with tweezers.
You can try it once or twice a day until you have gotten rid of the splinter.
Tweezers are possibly the best way to remove a splinter. Remember to sanitize it before removing the splinter.
Tweezers have pointed tips that can catch hold of the splinter and help you extract it from the skin. It helps with the removal of a splinter under the fingernail or similar difficult spots.
Tweezers will help you get rid of splinters once and for all.
Duct Tape is yet another useful tip that features on our list of how to get a splinter out of your finger. It is highly effective for getting rid of tiny splinters and fine plant stickers that are not really visible to the naked eye.
The exposed part of the splinter gets stuck to the adhesive part of the duct tape. Thus, when you take it off your skin, it will also remove the splinter.
You may have to repeat this remedy until the splinter comes off.
You can use a potato to draw out the splinter from your skin. Here’s how:
While science has no clear answer as to how this technique works, it is believed that the tension and adhesion of the water-content of potato that draws out the splinter. Plus, the splinter could get stuck in the thin layer of potato and can be extracted.
NOTE : Alternatively, you could slice off a fine sliver of potato, press it down over the splinter and take it off. The splinter will come off with the potato slice.
Do this once a day until the splinter comes off.
Splinters are a common occurrence and can happen to children and adults alike. The tips mentioned above can help you easily and painlessly get rid of splinters in no time. Once the splinter has been removed, wash and clean the wound to prevent infection. If you are unable to remove the splinter on your own, seek professional medical help. Visit your doctor in case the splinter shows signs of developing an infection.
Now that you know how to get rid of splinters, here are a few frequently asked questions that we are addressing:
While a splinter is unavoidable, you can take a little care to prevent splinters. Wear shoes to avoid getting splinters on your feet and wear protective gloves while working with wood or gardening to keep your hands safe.
In some cases, a splinter may come out by itself. However, if unremoved, it can lead to splinter infection. An infected splinter normally discharges pus, gets swollen, causes redness and intense pain.
Visit a doctor if the splinter is deep, large, or located in or around your eye. You should also see a medical professional if the splinter appears to be infected. In certain cases, your doctor may also administer a tetanus booster shot if you haven’t had it in the past five years.