Everyone has had this happen. You or your child have hardly touched pieces of rubble, wood, or glass, or anything like that, as they are like shrapnel.
When a small piece of wood slips on the skin causing a sudden amount of pain.
Fortunately, small pieces are easy to remove with the right tools and technique.
To remove small cuts, dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology recommend following these tips.
How to remove a splinter of skin
Most splinters can be removed safely at home, but some may need medical help. See your doctor or dermatologist if the splinter is very large, deep, in or near your eye, or if the area becomes infected.
To remove the splinter (small splinter), dermatologists recommend the following tips:
1. Wash and dry the area
To prevent infection, wash your hands and the affected area with soap and water and dry your skin gently.
2. Check the splinter
If the splinter is very small, use a magnifying glass to see its size and direction of entry into the skin.
3. Use tweezers to remove the splinter
If part of the splinter appears, you can use forceps to gently pull out the splinter. First, sterilize the tip of the forceps with alcohol.
Then pull the splinter in the same direction it entered the skin. Never apply pressure to the splinter, as this may cause it to break into smaller, difficult-to-remove pieces.
4. Use a small needle to remove the splinter
If the entire splinter is embedded under the skin, you can use a small needle to remove it.
First, sterilize the needle and tweezers using alcohol. Next, look through a magnifying glass and use the needle to gently puncture the surface of the skin at one end of the splinter.
This may require help from a friend or family member. Continue to use the needle to carefully push out part of the splinter.
Once one end of the splinter protrudes, use forceps to gently pull out the splinter.
5. Clean to apply the ointment
After removing the splinter, clean the area with soap and water and apply the ointment. Keep the area covered with a bandage until it heals.