You are doing some DIY projects with pieces of wood, and when you least expect it, you feel a sharp pain. That could be a splinter! Splinters occur when thin splints of wood or other sharp objects penetrate the skin and stick into your flesh.
Splinters may not be serious injuries that require medical assistance, but they can make your experience uncomfortable and painful. Luckily, there are easy splinter removal tips that can help you get rid of these annoying injuries painlessly.
If you get a splinter, you should not ignore it, even if it’s not painful. If left unattended, it could get infected and lead to further complications. So, how do you remove a splinter?
Before you even think of touching the injured skin, ensure that you wash your hands to prevent infecting the area. You also need to clean and sterilize the equipment you’ll use for the procedure. An infection may force you to seek medical assistance.
How to Remove Splinters
Well, removing splinters from your skin is never fun, especially if you have to dig into your skin with tools like tweezers and needles. But you can master how to get a splinter out with these common household items painlessly and easily.
Use Splinter Remover™ tool
If there is a splinter remover tool you should not miss in your First Aid box, it’s the Splinter Remover™ by Splinter Aid™. The splinter remover offers an easy and quick way to remove a splinter. A tri-bevel design helps remove slivers easily and painlessly as it relaxes your skin. Each tool is also disposable, so you only use it once.
To use this tool effectively:
- Disinfect your hands and the affected area and pat dry.
- Using the Splinter Remover™ tool, puncture the root of the splinter.
- Pluck out the splinter by pushing it gently with the Splinter Remover tool.
- Once the splinter is out, clean the area and cover it with a clean bandage.
- Dispose of the Splinter Remover™ tool once done.
Use Tweezers and Needle
If the splinter is deeply seated into the skin, a needle and a tweezer can help you prick it for easy removal. You can use a needle to expose its edge, and once there is a piece you can grab, use the tweezer to pull it out.
Do you have your needle and tweezers ready? Here’s how to use them to remove a splinter:
- Disinfect the materials using surgical spirit or rubbing alcohol. You want to make sure the materials are free from contamination so that you don’t infect your wound.
- Use the needle to prick the skin at the exact location of the splinter. You want to stay close to the surface; so, don’t puncture too deep into the skin.
- Once the splinter is exposed, use the tweezers to pull it out slowly. Be gentle so that you don’t slit more skin than necessary.
Use Duct Tape or Glue
When you have a splinter protruding on the surface, but tweezers can’t grab its edges, you can try using a piece of tape. Choose a stronger tape like duct tape for better adhesion.
- Soak the splinter-affected area in warm water to soften the surrounding skin. This ensures that the splinter will come out easily.
- Place the tape gently over the splinter and once it is secured, let it rest for a few minutes before pulling it off gently. If the sliver doesn’t come out at the first attempt, repeat the process until it comes out.
The next time you get a nasty splinter, try a piece of duct tape! You’ll realize it provides a painless remedy.
You can also use glue in place of duct tape. Glue works on the same principle. Not all glue is ideal for this process, though; the best glue should not stick too strongly onto your skin. Paper glue should be just fine since you can easily clean it off.
To use glue, pour a little drop over the affected area and dry it. Peel off the glue once it is dry. This should help draw the splinter out as the glue comes off.
Like tape, glue is effective for tiny splinters protruding on the surface.
Use Baking Soda
Is the splinter so tiny that you can’t see it? You may have an invisible splinter, making it hard to grip and pull out. In such a case, baking soda can come in handy.
- Start by cleaning the splinter-affected area with soap and water.
- Take ¼ tablespoon of baking soda and mix with a few drops of water to make a paste.
- Smear the paste on the area with the splinter.
- Use a bandage to cover the area once you’ve applied the paste and let it sit for 24 hours.
- When you remove the bandage, you’ll notice the splinter has come to the surface, and you can now pull it out easily.
If the splinter is not yet visible, you can repeat the process until it comes above the skin.
Try Epsom Salt
People use Epsom salt to cure different conditions, including sore muscles and blisters. But Epsom salt can also help deep splinters come to the surface for easy removal.
Here’s how to remove deep splinters using Epsom salt:
- Dissolve a small scoop of salt into warm water and use the mixture to soak the skin section where the splinter is located. Another option is to put a little Epsom salt onto a bandage and pad the area for 24 hours.
- You should be able to see the splinter once you remove the bandage. A gentle squeeze using tweezers should help remove the splinter once it is visible.
Hydrogen Peroxide
If you are looking for a painless and gentle option to remove splinters, hydrogen peroxide is a good option. When you pour hydrogen peroxide over an open wound, it will bubble as it comes into contact with the enzyme catalase, which the body releases to help repair damaged skin.
The bubbling reaction helps air bubbles to get under the splinter and push it to the surface. Once the splinter is out, you can use tweezers to pull it out with ease.
Conclusion
Splinters are sly; you never see them coming, but once they get under your skin, they are so annoying that you have to find a way of getting them out. The easiest way to remove splinters is by plucking them out using something specifically designed like the Splinter Remover™ tool.