How to Remove a Splinter: Painless At-home Methods

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.