How To Get Rid Of A Splinter

Everyone had to face this unpleasant situation. But do we always know exactly how to deal with it, with a splinter?

Everyone had to face this unpleasant situation. But do we always know exactly how to deal with it, with a splinter?

Removing a splinter can be compared to a small surgical operation, and no matter how unpleasant it is, you must get rid of it. If this is not done, then in addition to pain, it can even cause local tissue inflammation and even limit the mobility of the limb. To avoid all these troubles, you need to take measures as soon as possible.

In some cases, say, if you drove a rolling pin into a finger or toe, you can deal with the problem yourself, even if its tip broke off and it went completely under the skin. However, you should not take risks when the rolling pin is, for example, in the area of ​​the eyes or genitals, in such cases it is necessary to seek qualified medical help in the nearest reception department.

Let's consider several options for removing a splinter.

When the tip of the splinter sticks out above the skin

This is the best option, especially if it is a toe or a toe. We remind you that the removal of a splinter should be taken seriously - it is a responsible operation and the matter requires preliminary preparation.

First of all, you need to thoroughly wash your hands and prepare the necessary improvised means: cotton wool, bandage, tweezers, needle, antiseptic solution (alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, if they are not available, you can do without vodka). But it is better to refuse colored antiseptics, such as iodine or green tea at this stage, by painting the surface of the skin that you are preparing for the operation, you may simply not see the rolling pin at the crucial moment.

So, let's start. Treat the tweezers and the needle with an antiseptic solution, and also treat the surface of the skin with it. By the way, do not forget about high-quality lighting, as it is very important to examine the rolling pin and determine at what angle it entered the skin. Try to push it by pressing the skin next to it with your finger, while you can help with a needle, but do it very carefully. If it worked, grab the tip of the splinter with tweezers and carefully remove it at the same angle at which it entered the body. After removing the rolling pin, be sure to disinfect the wound surface and, applying cotton wool soaked in alcohol, cover the wound with a plaster.

If the outer end of the splint has broken off

There are several methods, each of which you need to adapt to, so it is advisable to "find" your proven, tested one and practice only it. We offer the following options for consideration:

The outer end had broken off, but it had only just happened, and the rolling pin had not yet gone deep under the skin. Try to release the end of the splinter with the tip of the needle, pressing a little with your finger, and lift it up a little so that you can grab it with tweezers.

However, if the splinter has gone deep under the skin, you need to radically change tactics. Now you will need a skin softener. It can be salt, soda, soap, tar, bread crumbs, aloe, kerosene, even a banana peel will do.

A very warm bath with soda and salt or a piece of soap will help soften the skin quickly. Immerse your finger in the prepared bath and keep it for up to half an hour, periodically adding warm water. When the skin softens, try to remove the rolling pin with a needle and tweezers. Do not forget to disinfect the wound.

Kerosene and tar soften the skin well, but you will have to wait a few hours, after which the rolling pin will stick out and it will be easy to get it, again with the help of tweezers.

A bandage with a mixture of water and soda, a piece of aloe, chewed bread crumbs or a banana peel works more slowly - you will need to spend the night with such a bandage, and in the morning you will see that the skin has softened and you can try to get the rolling pin.

If it is not possible to remove the rolling pin immediately

This happens if, for example, you get a splinter while hiking, in the forest, etc. In such cases, it takes some time to reach a stop. Immediately treat the area with an alcohol-containing liquid to prevent infection, and as soon as you get to a stop, either follow the "sticking tip" scheme, or apply an emollient and allow the splinter to come to the surface voluntarily.

Monitor the wound until it heals

You removed the rolling pin, applied a patch or a sterile bandage, and the wound should seem to be healing, but you feel pain, and swelling and redness appeared in this place. It is possible that during the operation or earlier an infection was brought there, as a result of which the inflammatory process began. In this case, rejecting any self-help, urgently consult a doctor.

What not to do

When trying to remove a fresh rolling pin, in no case should you peel off the place where it sits or make a cut - this can make the situation worse.

Do not try to use creams or ointments as emollients - there will be no benefit from this, and they will block access to oxygen, which, in turn, can lead to inflammation.

Sometimes it is advised to stick the patch to a rolling pin that sticks out and pull sharply. The method may have helped someone, but judge for yourself: by sticking a plaster, you risk driving the rolling pin even deeper. Therefore, we recommend that, before listening to certain advice, pass them through the sieve of common sense.