Removing splinters: It’s easy
When romping around in the forest or on the playground, it can often happen that your child comes home with a splinter under the skin. How to remove the splinter and when you should go to a doctor, you can find out here.
Your child is often outside and in addition to several falls and abrasions, splinters creep in under the skin from time to time. These not only disturb, but can also hurt in part. Depending on the size and depth, it is necessary to either remove the splinter yourself or consult a doctor for it. It may be useful to use aFirst aid kitDisplayat hand.
The handling of a splinter of wood, glass or metal depends on the size and depth of the culprit.
Remove splinters with tweezers and needle
If a part of the splinter protrudes from the skin, it is best to pull it with aTweezersDisplayout. Make sure that the tweezers are sterile and your hands are clean to avoid possible infections. You can simply hold the tweezers in a flame for a short time. Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Then proceed carefully and slowly so that the splinter does not accidentally break into individual parts and you may not be able to remove it completely. Also, do not try to squeeze it out, because you only push the splinter deeper into the skin.
If the splinter is under the skin, you can use asewing needledisinfected with alcohol. With it, you can easily scratch the skin and get under the top layer of skin. Then you can straighten the splinter and remove it with tweezers. Pull out the splinter slowly and then clean the area withDisinfectantDisplayand cover them with a clean plaster.
Remove splinters in a soap bath
This method is particularly suitable for wood splinters. If the splinter cannot simply be gripped with tweezers because it sits lower, you can also repeatedly immerse the affected part of your child’s body in a soap bath for ten minutes. As a result, the splinter swells and is pushed through the softened skin to the surface, so that you can usually pull out the splinter without any problems. Alternatively, you can also go to the swimming pool for a day and swim in the warm water.
Remove splinters with baking soda
If the splinter is too small to see it properly or even to be able to grasp it, baking soda should work wonders. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with a little water until the mixture becomes a pulp. Spread this mixture on the area of skin with the splinter and cover it with a patch or clean bandage. Let it sit for several hours. Subsequently, the splinter should be easy to remove.
Remove splinters with olive oil
Using olive oil is another gentle way to remove a splinter from your child’s skin. Drip the oil onto the affected area and let it take effect. After some time, the splinter should be pushed out of the skin by the oil so that it can be pulled out with tweezers.
Remove splinters with adhesive tape
For this method you need strong and strong armor tape instead of tape. Glue it to the place where the splinter is located and press it gently. Then peel off the tape in the direction in which the splinter has penetrated or protruded into the skin. In the best case, the splinter sticks to the adhesive tape and is pulled out when pulled off.
When to have the splinter removed by the doctor?
You should see a doctor if the splinter is stuck and cannot be removed or hurts your child very much. The expert disinfects the affected area with an ointment or tincture and the troublemaker may remove it on an outpatient basis with a small incision. Some splinters can even be smashed with a laser. However, this is rarely necessary, as a splinter can usually be removed with one of the previously mentioned methods.
Are splinters dangerous?
If your child has a splinter, don’t panic. Nevertheless, the splinter should not stay inside, but you should try to either remove the splinter yourself or consult a doctor. There are always examples that show that a splinter pulled out too quickly and roughly can break into many small parts. These are increasingly difficult to remove over time and can lead to infections.