How to remove a splinter

Splinters usually get inside your skin due to some injury or major friction and are hence easily noticed. But, in a few cases, splinters get into your skin without you knowing about it. This generally happens when you are not attentive or when the injury or pain is not much noticeable. A splinter may also be visible due to its colour or size. This just makes the detection of a splinter really difficult.
So the question arises: how to get to know if there is a splinter inside your skin?

• For starters, you’ll feel cutting and poking pain in the affected area. But if the pain is not as noticeable a splinter can be identified from the various reactions it elicits in your body if they are stuck for some time. These reactions can ensure the presence of a splinter. A splinter near the surface of the skin can be easily identified as brown coloured dots or slivers.
• If a slither is stuck inside your skin, you can feel its presence. The sensation might be too weak for you to notice but if you touch the affected are you would certainly feel the prick of the splinter.  
• Deeper splinters are most commonly associated with the appearance of inflammation around the affected area. Inflammation is your body’s reaction to the presence of an unfamiliar object. It manifests in the form of redness and swelling. Depending on the size of the splinter it may affect a small area or could be noticeably big.

Once you identify them, superficial splinters can be easily removed with a pair of tweezers and needle. Though there are some important things to be taken into consideration to prevent infection. Mentioned below is a safe and effective way to remove a splinter at home:

• The first and most important step before removing the splinter from the skin is washing and sanitising your hands properly. Also, wash the affected area with soap and pat it dry gently. Do not rub too hard as it may just worsen the pain or push the splinter deeper into the skin.
• Along with your hands, it is also important to sterilize the tweezer and needle. For that, you just need to boil them for a few minutes and then pour some antiseptic solution on both the things. This double sterilization ensures that there are no bacteria left on either of the instruments so there is no virtually no chance that of getting an infection.  Inspect the splinter properly to assess its shape and size. You may need a magnifying lens if the splinter is too small. Check the direction through which the splinter entered the skin.
• If a part the splinter is near the surface of the skin, use a tweezer to gently pull it out in the same direction and angle it entered the skin. Don’t press the splinter too hard. This will prevent the splinter from breaking, leaving an even smaller piece inside your skin.
• In case the splinter is under the skin and none of its ends has any connection with the upper layer of skin, use a needle to take the splinter out. Carefully pierce and scrape your skin, making an opening for the splinter to come out. You can take help of your family member or friend for this. After making the opening, push one end of the splinter out with the needle itself. Once an end of the splinter is on the surface, you can use a tweezer and gently pull it out.

Removing splinters from nails

• Splinter in nails could be really troublesome to get rid of and usually need another level of expertise. It is best to take help of a doctor to get rid of such splinters though you may get it out yourself with the following way:
• Once you wash and sterilise your hands and tweezers, cut a V-shaped part of the nail to get access to the affected area using a blade
• Make sure to sterilize the blade before using
• You need to cut a small portion of the nail only. Do not cut any big part as it will cause more pain and create an open wound, increasing the risk of infection

After this, look for the splinter and using a tweezer and needle take it out carefully.

If tweezers and needles look a bit scary to you, you can still get a splinter out of your skin with ease. All you need is the presence of mind and some easily available ingredients.

Once the splinter is out, look for any broken part that may still be left inside. Use a magnifying glass for this. If you do not find any more splinter or any broken part of it then you need to wash and cover it properly to prevent the risk of infection. It will also ensure quick healing of the wound. Here are a few pointers you need to take care of:

• Wash the affected area properly with an antiseptic solution and pat it dry after you remove the splinter.
• Do not apply any ointment on it, instead, cover it with a bandaid
• Do not keep on touching the affected area with unwashed hands until it heals. Your hands carry a lot of germs which may be transferred to the wound with constant poking. Let mother nature do its job and heal your body.
• Change the bandaid regularly, and also clean the affected area with cotton before applying bandaids.

​If required, take an injection for tetanus

Splinters usually come out easily and don't cause much harm. But in some cases, you need to consult a doctor. Call a doctor if you are having any of the following issues:

• If the splinter is too deep such that it is embedded near important nerves or blood vessels.
• In case you are unable to pull out the splinter with any remedy. If you removed the splinter but pain continues to become worse. This can be because of many reasons like another splinter or an injury or infection
• If inflammation and redness keep on worsening even after you remove the splinter, this can be a sign of an infection and may need immediate medical supervision.
• In case the splinter is inside or around sensitive tissues like eyes