How to Get a Splinter Out: The Fastest Way To Remove the Annoying...

Splinters are the worst! They’re small, but they can be so painful. The most common place to get a splinter is in your finger—and it really hurts when you try to take one out. What makes them even worse is that there are all sorts of different ways to remove one. Some people swear by cutting it off with scissors or needle-nose pliers; others use tape and rubbing alcohol still, others go for the tweezers.

What is are splintered?

A splinter is a little sliver of wood, metal, or other material that gets embedded under the skin. It is a common household accident and can be quite painful. Splinters also can pose a risk of infection, so it’s important to get them out as soon as possible.

What causes a splinter?

Splinters are caused when something sharp – such as a nail, stick, needle – pierces into your skin at an angle. This causes a sliver of material to get wedged under the cuticle and creates a “splinter” effect.

How do I know if I have a splinter?

If you have ever been burnt by hot metal or poked yourself with something sharp but only felt pain from one specific spot on your body, you most likely have a painful and annoying splinter! You may notice a bump in that area and the skin may be discolored.

How to Remove Splinters

A lot of people have experienced the pain of a splinter. It can be pretty challenging to remove them even if they are common. You may find it easier to remove the splinters by cutting them off, sliding thin objects under it, applying pressure on top of the skin, or using tweezers.

Some ways to pull out a splinter include cutting off the tip of it with scissors or a knife or sliding something like a needle under the tip of it. If you’re not confident at cutting your finger with scissors just use some tweezers instead. When using tweezers, place them above and below the splinters and pull straight up once you’ve managed to get hold of the end. As long as you keep constant pressure, you should be able to pull it straight out.

It can take a while to get the splinter out using just tweezers so another technique is applying pressure over your skin where the splinter is. You can use some bandage that’s not too tight or just support it with your fingers then apply pressure on top of the skin. You should feel your skin pushing the splinters out of your finger.

Another way to get a splinter out is sliding something like an eyeliner pencil under it and lifting it off, but make sure you use something metal or plastic because the wood will only push the splinter in further.

Use a sewing needle or tweezers

Put a needle in the hole and push it around a bit. If it’s a slanted needle you can use the edge to cut off the top of the skin. If not, try sliding a thin object under the skin around the splinter. When you get to where the needle is, pull it out slowly.

Use tape

Tape over the area of the splinter with either duct tape or electrical tape. Cut a small hole out on top of it and leave it there for about 10 minutes. The splinter should draw to the surface pathetically, if not you can try cutting off more skin using a needle or tweezers.

Use an adhesive strip

I’ve found that using an adhesive strip to pull out the splinter is by far the quickest, easiest, and most pain-free way to remove a splinter. Take the adhesive tape and wrap it around your finger, putting it on the area where you can see the splinter. This will cause the skin to stick together, allowing you to quickly pull it off your finger.

Apply Hydrogen Peroxide

Also works for removing a splinter. To use it, simply pour some onto the affected area and cover it with a bandage. The presence of the bacteria in the wound will cause an “autolytic reaction,” which should break down the skin to release the splinter from its resting place.

Prevention Tips

Some people prefer prevention to alleviate the possibility of a splinter. There are some steps that you can take to avoid the possibility of getting a splinter in the first place. It is always a good idea to wear some footwear when going outside and keep your feet dry. If you do get a splinter, wash your hands before touching it and pull it out at an angle from where it goes into the skin. Do not wait too long before removing it from your skin or you risk infection.

Conclusion: How to Get a Splinter Out

It is important to know what a splinter is, how they get in your skin, and the best ways of removing them. We can define a splinter as any sharp object that penetrates through the layers of your skin. Things like sticks, nails, or pieces of glass often cause them. One way you might remove one would be with tweezers – but not just any type will do! You should use either sewing needles or needle-nose pliers because they have pointed tips that make it easier for getting underneath the surface without causing too much damage to your skin.