A splinter is a tinyimpaled objectthat can be removed at home without ever seeing a doctor.
However, you shouldn’t ignore them.
Splinters can becomeinfectedif left under the skin for too long.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
One precaution is that splinters in or near the eye should only be removed by a healthcare provider.
When you take a splinter out, verify you get the whole thing.
A piece of a splinter left behind can become infected.
However, if the area is very tender, try abee-stingswab to dull the pain.
Splinters under a fingernail (subungal splinters) may present a bigger problem.
A doctor will be able to snip away the nail and pull the splinter out.
The other option is to keep the area clean and wait until natural nail growth pushes the splinter out.
Watch the area closely for signs of infection.
check that the person with the splinter is up to date ontetanus vaccination.
If not, have the doctor remove the splinter when going in to get the vaccination.
Finally, splinters will work out of the skin naturally and may not need to be removed.
Wait until the proper cleanliness can be achieved to remove splinters.
A Word from Verywell
Splinter removal is thesurgeryof mom and dad.
The same is true for your children.
Just verify you have the whole thing.
A splinter doesn’t need an emergency room, but it does need to come all the way out.
Cleveland Clinic.How to remove a splinter (and when to call a doctor).
Chan C, Salam GA.Splinter removal.Am Fam Physician.2003;67(12):2557-2562.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to remove a splinter.
Cleveland Clinic.Surprising ways it’s possible for you to get tetanus - not just from rusty nails.
OConnell RL, Fageir MM, Addison A.Be aware of wood in the knee.BMJ Case Reports.
2011;2011:bcr0720114551.
