Splinters
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Medical Encyclopedia
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Splinter removal
Illustrations
A splinter is a thin piece of material (like
wood, glass, or metal) that gets embedded just below the top layer of your skin.
To remove a splinter:
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Wash your hands with soap and water.
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Use tweezers to grab the splinter. Carefully pull it out at the same
angle it went in.
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If the splinter is under the skin or hard to grab: Sterilize a pin or
needle by soaking it in rubbing alcohol or placing the tip in a flame. Wash
your hands with soap. Use the pin to gently remove skin over the splinter.
Then use the tip of the pin to lift the end of the splinter out. You will
probably still need to use tweezers as in step 2.
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Wash the area with soap and water after the splinter is out. Pat it dry.
(Don't rub.) Apply antibiotic ointment. Bandage the cut only if it is likely
to get dirty. It will heal faster if exposed to the air.
See your doctor if there is inflammation or
pus, or if the splinter is deeply embedded. Also, seek medical attention if the
splinter is close to your eye.
Clark DC. Common acute hand infections. Am
Fam Physician. 2003; 68(11): 2167-2176.
Update Date: 2/24/2004
Updated by: A.D.A.M. editorial.
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