Urgent care near me 
Key Points
- Don’t try to “squeeze” splinters out. You’ll risk splitting the splinter into parts which will make it much more difficult to remove.
- Most splinters can be taken care of at home with the good old tweezers and needle approach.
- If you’re feeling iffy or suspect that the wound may be infected, book a visit with an urgent care center to have an expert take care of it.
Splinters are a huge bummer. At best, they’re irritating. At worst, they can get infected and turn into a much bigger issue. A splinter is a small foreign body that becomes wedged under the first layers of skin. They note that a common kind of splinter is a wood splinter (a small, sharp piece of wood that embeds under the skin). Some people call a splinter a sliver—these terms both refer to the same thing. A splinter usually causes some mild pain or discomfort, but luckily there are several ways that you can painlessly remove splinters at home.
But first, here’s what not to do when removing a splinter
Don’t try to “squeeze” it out. You’ll risk splitting the splinter into parts which will make it much more difficult to remove. Also, it’s best not to try to remove certain kinds of splinters at home. If the splinter is very large, deep, infected, or located on or near your eye, it will likely require medical attention. Splinters that go straight into the skin are also notoriously tricky to remove by yourself. If any of these things are going on, make an appointment at your local urgent care center and they’ll fix you right up.
How to Remove a Splinter
A tried and true way to remove a splinter: tweezers and a needle
Most splinters can be taken care of at home with the good old tweezers and needle approach. But remember, it’s best to deal with a splinter right away. You don’t want it to burrow deeper into the skin or get infected.
1. Inspect the splinter
The first thing you should do is inspect the splinter to see which direction it entered the skin and whether a portion of it is poking out or not. Using a magnifying glass is super helpful here (and a good thing to have in your first aid kit). Inspecting your splinter first will help you decide how to proceed in getting it out.
2. Wash and dry the area
After you've inspected your splinter, clean the area of your splinter with soap and water to help prevent infection. You should also clean your tools (such as your tweezers or needles). The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you clean any tools with rubbing alcohol, which will help sterilize them.
3. Use tweezers to remove the splinter
If a section of the splinter is visible you can use the tweezers to pull it out the same direction it went in.
4. Use a small sterilized needle to remove the splinter
If the entire splinter is fully embedded in the skin, however, you’ll need to use a small needle to get it out. Gently pierce the surface of the skin at one end of the splinter and keep lightly pushing out part of the splinter until you can see the tip. Then use your tweezers to remove it.
5. Clean and apply petroleum jelly
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you apply petroleum jelly and use a bandage to cover the area where your splinter used to be until it heals.
How to get a splinter out without tweezers
Tweezer method not working? Not a problem. We've got 6 more easy ways that you can try to remove that pesky splinter.
- Try pulling the sliver out with duct tape. Sticky tape (like duct tape) can work great to remove shallow splinters. Simply cover the tip of a splinter with a small piece of tape and leave it on for 30 minutes (this will allow the tape adhesive to adhere well to the splinter). Then slowly remove the tape in the opposite direction that the splinter entered the skin. The tape should stick to the end of the splinter and pull it free as you peel the tape away. Pro tip: soak the area in water first to soften the skin and make the sliver easier to remove.
- Use a solution to draw out the splinter. Make a paste using one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of water. Cover the skin around the splinter with the paste. Then, put a bandage over the area and leave it alone for at least 24 hours. The baking soda solution should work to pull the splinter up to the surface, making it easier to pull out with tweezers easily and painlessly.
- You can also try using hydrogen peroxide or an Epsom salt soak to help draw the splinter closer to the surface. This method can work on large splinters but may be less effective if the splinter is too deep. Epsom salts can also sometimes help bring the splinter up closer to the surface of the skin.
Risks of not Removing a Splinter
Small splinters may eventually work their way out of the body on their own, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Some, however, can be deep enough or big enough to cause prolonged discomfort if they aren't removed. Additionally, Medical News Today notes that any wound containing a foreign object (including splinters) carries a risk of introducing bacteria, including tetanus (a rare and often fatal condition).
Splinters can also cause localized infections that may cause pain, tenderness, and swelling around the sliver, or cause pus to leak from the puncture wound. The skin could also heal over the splinter, making it much more difficult to remove down the line. If your splinter is big or infected, or if you do not feel comfortable trying to remove it yourself, you can visit an urgent care near you to remove it safely for you.
Final Takeaways
Getting a splinter out doesn’t have to be a painful process. Depending on where the splinter is and how deep it goes, you may be able to get it out of your skin by yourself. However, if you’re feeling iffy or suspect that the wound may be infected, take out the guesswork and book an appointment at one of Solv's urgent care centers.
Frequently asked questions
How do you bring a splinter to the surface?
You can try to bring a splinter to the surface of your skin a few different ways, according to online sources. Soaking your splinter in warm water mixed with Epsom salt is one way. Another way is to use hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar. As a last resort, you can use a sterile needle to gently pry a splinter up toward the surface. Be sure to wash your skin thoroughly with warm water and soap, as well as clean your needle with alcohol before attempting this method.
How do you remove an embedded splinter?
The best way to remove an embedded splinter is to use tweezers to pull the splinter out. This is usually an easy process if part of the splinter remains outside of the skin. If your splinter is fully embedded in your skin, you can use a sterile needle and attempt to bring part of the splinter to the surface. If using a needle is not working or you don't want to try that, using a baking soda paste, or soaking in warm water with Epsom salt can help bring a splinter to the surface. If nothing works, going to urgent care is an option!
Can you soak a splinter out?
You can soak a splinter out in some cases. This usually works well for small splinters, according to Medical News Today. Warm water with Epsom salt is one of the best ways to soak out a splinter. If you don't have Epsom salt, you can try to soak your splinter out with hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar.
What is the fastest way to remove a splinter?
The fastest way to remove a splinter to is grab the exposed end of the splinter with tweezers and pull it in the opposite direction that it went in. For a fully embedded splinter, using a small and sterilized needle to expose part of the splinter can help. Once you have exposed part of the splinter, you can grab the exposed end with tweezers.
How do I remove a splinter under my fingernail?
See if you can cut the nail back enough so that you can remove the splinter with tweezers. If the splinter is deeper under the nail, you can use clippers to trim a v-shape in the nail to open it up further and allow tweezers better access. Once the splinter is out, wash the area with soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment, then a bandage. If you are unable to get to the splinter this way, make an urgent care appointment.
Should I go to the doctor if I can’t get my splinter out?
Yes. Most urgent care centers can take care of difficult splinters right away. You should seek medical care if the splinter won’t come out, if it’s on or near the eye, or if it’s looking infected. Signs that a splinter is infected include increased pain or redness, hardened skin, a white or yellow discharge, an associated fever or swollen lymph nodes, or red streaking from the affected area.
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