What happens if you leave a splinter in your skin for too long? Can the skin grow over a splinter and what are the risks of not removing a splinter?

The Dangers of Leaving a Splinter in Your Skin

Splinters are a common occurrence, but leaving them in your skin can lead to serious health risks. When a splinter embeds in the skin, it carries bacteria and fungi that can cause dangerous infections. Even splinters made of materials like glass or metal can still harbor harmful microbes.

One common infection associated with splinters is Staphylococcus, which can cause visible skin redness, fever, and chills. Another serious risk is tetanus, caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. Tetanus can lead to muscle stiffness, difficulty swallowing, and fever.

The immune system will try to fight off the foreign material in the skin, causing inflammation around the splinter. If left untreated, this inflammation can worsen and the skin may actually grow over the splinter, trapping it underneath.

How to Safely Remove a Splinter

The rule of thumb is to try to remove a splinter if you can see it in the skin. Use clean tweezers to gently grab the exposed end and pull it out. Disinfect the wound after removal to prevent infection.

What if the splinter is not visible or is deeply embedded? You should seek medical attention if you cannot fully remove the splinter, if the area becomes red and swollen, or if you haven’t had a recent tetanus shot. A doctor can properly clean and treat the wound to ensure no part of the splinter remains under the skin.

When to See a Doctor for a Splinter

You should make an appointment with your doctor if:

• You cannot fully remove the splinter yourself
• The area around the splinter becomes red, swollen, or painful
• You have signs of infection like fever or chills
• You haven’t had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years

Trying to remove a deeply embedded splinter yourself can do more harm than good. Seek professional medical care to ensure the splinter is fully removed and the wound is properly treated to prevent serious complications.

The Risks of Leaving a Splinter in the Skin

What are the potential consequences of leaving a splinter in your skin for too long? The main risks include:

1. Infection: Splinters can introduce bacteria and fungi into the skin, leading to localized infections like Staphylococcus or systemic infections like tetanus.
2. Skin Growth: If left untreated, the skin can actually grow over the splinter, trapping it underneath the surface.
3. Increased Pain and Inflammation: The immune system will try to fight the foreign object, causing worsening pain, redness, and swelling around the splinter site.
4. Spread of Infection: Untreated infections from a splinter can potentially spread to other parts of the body, becoming more serious.

To avoid these complications, it’s important to remove a visible splinter properly or seek medical attention if you cannot remove it yourself. Proper wound care after splinter removal is also crucial to prevent infection.

Tips for Safely Removing a Splinter

Here are some key steps to safely remove a splinter at home:

1. Wash your hands and the affected area with soap and water.
2. Sterilize a pair of tweezers by wiping the tips with rubbing alcohol.
3. Gently grab the exposed end of the splinter and pull it out in the same direction it went in.
4. Disinfect the wound with antiseptic and apply a bandage.
5. Watch for signs of infection like redness, swelling, or pus, and see a doctor if they develop.

Trying to remove a deeply embedded splinter yourself can cause more harm than good. If you cannot fully remove the splinter or the area becomes infected, it’s best to see a medical professional for proper treatment.

Preventing Splinters in the First Place

While splinters are a common occurrence, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk:

• Wear protective gloves when handling wood, plants, or other materials that could lead to splinters.
• Be cautious when walking barefoot, especially on wooden surfaces or in areas with vegetation.
• Inspect children’s toys and furniture for any splintered or rough edges.
• Address any loose boards, nails, or other hazards in your home or yard that could cause splinters.

Taking these preventive measures can help you avoid the pain and potential complications of dealing with a splinter in the first place.

How to Remove a Splinter and What Happens If You Don’t

How to Remove a Splinter and What Happens If You Don’t

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What happens if you leave a splinter in your skin for too long?

Splinters are a literal pain, removing them just causes more pain. But what happens if you leave a splinter in your skin?

You risk a dangerous infection. Since it’s natural material, splinters carry bacteria and fungi. The risk is much less for pieces of glass, plastic, or metal. 

Woods and thorns also have natural oils in them.  The immune system sees this as a threat, inflaming the skin around it.

Staphylococcus is a common splinter-related infection. Keep an eye out for visible streaks on the skin, fever, or chills.

Tetanus is caused by Clostridium tetani, another risky bacteria. It can cause tightness of the jaw, stiff muscles, and fever.

The rule of thumb is: if you can see the splinter, try to remove it.

Be sure to use clean tweezers. Disinfect the wound once the splinter has been removed. Don’t forget to bandage it to avoid infection.

Your immune system will thank you!

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Following is a transcript of the video.

What happens if you leave a splinter in your skin for too long?

Splinters are a literal pain, removing them just causes more pain. But what happens if you leave a splinter in your skin?

You risk a dangerous infection. Since it’s natural material, splinters carry bacteria and fungi. The risk is much less for pieces of glass, plastic, or metal. 

Woods and thorns also have natural oils in them.  The immune system sees this as a threat, inflaming the skin around it.

Staphylococcus is a common splinter-related infection. Keep an eye out for visible streaks on the skin, fever, or chills.

Tetanus is caused by Clostridium tetani, another risky bacteria. It can cause tightness of the jaw, stiff muscles, and fever.

The rule of thumb is: if you can see the splinter, try to remove it.

Be sure to use clean tweezers. Disinfect the wound once the splinter has been removed. Don’t forget to bandage it to avoid infection.

Your immune system will thank you!

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When to Get Help for a Glass Splinter

Glass splinters are painful and difficult to remove because they are transparent.

Splinters might seem like a minor discomfort but if not treated carefully, you can risk infection.

In this article, we are going to discuss what to do if you get a glass splinter embedded in your skin and when it is time to call your doctor.

Glass Splinters

If you get a glass splinter genuinely into your foot or hand or someplace, you’re going to want to try and remove it. If you cannot remove it or if the sliver area looks swollen with infection or red, call your doctor.

If you feel severe pain or cannot remove the sliver, then call your doctor or visit our urgent care clinic. You will need assistance. If you haven’t had a tetanus shot in over five years, you are also going to want to see your doctor.

Taking Care of the Glass Splinter at Home

Pain-free and Tiny Splinters

Did you know that if have many little pain free slivers, you can leave them in? Your skin will naturally shed these splinters out. Or you will see your body reject them by building a pimple around it. The fragment will drain out.

Tiny Painful Fiberglass

If you get these fiberglass spicules, these are difficult to remove because they are so small and fragile. They can break if you try and remove them with tweezers because of the pressure.

Instead, try tape. Touch the area lightly with a piece of duct or packaging tape. If you find this doesn’t work, try wax hair remover.

Wax hair remover can be lightly applied to the area. Let it dry for five minutes or if you are in a rush dry the area with a hairdryer. Peel if off with the spicules. Most of them will be removed, and the remaining ones will shed off with the skin.

Tweezers and Needles

If you have a large glass splinter in your hand, try and remove it with tweezers and a needle. Make sure you sterilize them first with rubbing alcohol.

Clean the area where the splinter is. Rub it with alcohol or was with water and soap. Do not soak the area.

Use the needle to expose the more significant part of the fragment. Make sure you have bright lighting and use a magnifying glass if you need a better visual.

Grasp the end with tweezers and pull it at the same angle it slid in.

Get a good grip. For splinters under a fingernail, you may need to maneuver and cut a part of the nail away so you can expose the end of the fragment.

Splinters that are horizontal can be removed by pulling on the end. If by accident, the end breaks off, open the skin with a sterile needle, and flick it out.

Antibiotic Ointment

Once the splinter is removed, wash the area with water and soap. You will reduce the risk of infection by using an antibiotic ointment after the splinter has been removed.

Glass Splinters

In this article, we discussed how to remove a glass splinter. Be careful and make sure you are in a room with bright lighting and wash the area where the sliver is.

However, if you cannot get the splinter out, you are going to need to call your doctor. If the pain persists after it’s been removed, you will also want to call your doctor.

If you want to learn more about when to visit your doctor if you are still feeling unwell, read this article we wrote.

What will happen if you do not pull out the splinter

October 19, 2022

Likbez

Health

Depending on what kind of splinter and where it is.

What happens if the splinter is not removed

Any foreign body irritates our tissues: the body tries to fight the foreigner, so inflammation begins. The skin around the splinter turns red, the wound swells and hurts.

Everything will be even worse if microbes penetrate the skin along with a chip or a splinter. True, the material matters here: due to more contaminated “live” splinters, for example, wood chips and plant thorns, the infection joins faster than due to “non-living” ones – metal shavings or glass fragments.

In what cases can a splinter not be pulled out? This applies to cases where the wound is very small, painless, does not cause discomfort, and the fragment is close to the surface of the skin. Then it makes sense to wait a bit.

But with some splinters, it is better to leave independent attempts and go to the emergency room.

What kind of splinters should you bring to the emergency room?

Sometimes even a small splinter can lead to serious inflammation. You will definitely need medical attention if:

• a splinter has entered the skin near the eye or under the nail;
• there are signs of infection such as redness, fever at the site, white or yellow discharge from the wound;
• the splinter has entered perpendicular to the skin surface and only a small dot is visible;
• the splinter is deep or broken when trying to remove it;
• it could not be pulled out in 10-15 minutes.

How to pull a splinter out yourself

Other splinters, pieces of glass and other foreign particles can be pulled out by yourself. For this you need:

• wash your hands;
• wash the splinter with tap water and soap;
• soak the needle and tweezers with boiling water or alcohol, or place the tips of the instruments on fire for a few seconds;
• carefully pick up the splinter with a tool and pull it out;
• wash the wound again;
• if desired, apply an ointment with antibiotics or healing agents;
• tape if necessary.

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How to get a splinter without a needle: 10 life hacks

These easy ways to get a splinter without a needle can be used everywhere, some of them are even suitable for outdoor recreation.

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Baking Soda

To make a paste, mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda with water to make a paste. Apply the resulting slurry on and around the splinter, and then apply a bandage on top. Leave the bandage on for 24 hours and then remove it. At this stage, the splinter should stick out. If after removing the bandage you still do not see the splinter, repeat the procedure until the splinter comes out.

Adhesive tape (adhesive tape, plaster)

If the splinter is very small and already on the surface, but you cannot grasp it with tweezers, try using a piece of adhesive tape, such as adhesive tape. Gently press a small piece of tape to the area where the splinter is located. Wait 30 minutes. Slowly peel off the tape, trying to pull it in the opposite direction from where the splinter entered the skin.

Banana peel, aloe or potato skins

Banana peels and potato skins, like baking soda, are said to help remove a splinter because the skin swells and pushes the splinter out. The usage pattern is very simple.

• Cut off a small piece of an aloe leaf, banana peel or potato skin and place it skin side up on the splinter.
• Cover with a bandage and leave for several hours or overnight.
• After removing the peel or skin, remove the splinter with tweezers.
• Thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water, apply antibiotic ointment and bandage until the wound heals.

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Essential oils

You can also try moistening the area with essential oils such as lavender oil or tea tree oil to draw out the splinter. To avoid skin reactions associated with the use of strong essential oils, always dilute them with a carrier oil.

• Clean the area of ​​skin where the splinter is located.
• Soak the splinter in diluted essential oil for a few minutes.
• When the splinter rises closer to the skin surface, remove it with tweezers.

Adhesive

Any polymer adhesive that cures to a flexible film can also help with splinters. Such brands as PVA, Moment, BF are suitable for this purpose. Just cover the area around the splinter with glue and let it dry completely (if the glue is still wet, it won’t work). When the glue dries, peel it off. The splinter should come out quickly when you wipe off the glue. This method is best used if the splinter is small and close to the surface.

Hydrogen peroxide

Pour some hydrogen peroxide on the affected area. When the peroxide starts bubbling, it will move the splinter closer to the surface. In just a few minutes, the peroxide can completely pull the splinter out of the skin without pain. This method may help with larger splinters, but may be less effective if the splinter is too deep. Don’t have hydrogen peroxide on hand? Try using white vinegar.

Salt solution

You can also put some wet salt on a bandage and leave it on your skin for a day. Salt will be absorbed by the cells, as a result of which they shrivel, and the splinter, as it were, moves closer to the surface, where it is easy to reach.

Pharmacy ointments (ichthyol, Vishnevsky)

The ointment protects the wound from suppuration due to antiseptic and bactericidal properties. It can be purchased at any pharmacy for a penny. Take a patch, apply a sufficient amount of ointment on its bactericidal part (a square in the middle), stick it on the place where the splinter is located and after 12 hours remove the patch.

Bottle

Pour hot water into the bottle, leaving a centimeter to the top. Hold your finger over the neck of the bottle, pressing lightly on it. The heat from the water will steam the skin and “pull out” the foreign body.

Syringe

In order to get a splinter in this way, it is necessary to cut off the nozzle of the syringe to the base. Then attach the resulting hole to the place where the splinter is located in such a way as to cover it with a syringe as a cap. After that, pull the piston: the resulting pressure difference will force the splinter to come out. Of course, this option is possible only if the splinter is stuck not at an angle, but vertically.

When to see a doctor

In most cases, you can solve a splinter problem yourself.