Are You Sick?

Sliver or Splinter

A foreign object stuck in the skin, such as a wood splinter, fishhook, glass sliver or needle
Excludes deep Puncture Wounds (see that care guide)

Pain. Most tiny slivers in the top layer of skin do not cause much pain. An example plant stickers. Objects that are deeper or go straight in are usually painful to pressure. Objects in the foot are very painful with standing or walking.
Foreign Object Sensation. People often say, "I feel something in there."

Wood (organic): splinters, cactus spines, thorns, toothpicks. These objects are irritating and become infected if not removed.
Metallic: BBs, nails, sewing needles, pins, tacks
Fiberglass slivers
Fishhooks may have a barbed point that makes removal difficult
Glass sliver
Pencil lead(graphite, not truly lead)
Plastic sliver

When to Call for Sliver or Splinter
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now You can't get the object out or want a doctor to take it out No past tetanus shots You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Wound looks infected (spreading redness) Puncture wound and last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours You think you may have a foreign body in your skin but are not sure Minor slivers, spines or fiberglass slivers that need to be removed You have other questions or concerns	Self Care at Home Minor slivers, splinter or thorn that you can remove at home

Tiny, pain-free slivers near the skin surface can be left in.
They will slowly work their way out with normal shedding of the skin.
Sometimes, the body also will reject them by forming a little pimple. This will drain on its own. Or you can open up the pimple. Use a clean needle. The sliver will flow out with the pus.

Plant stickers or cactus spines are hard to remove. Fiberglass slivers may also be hard to get out. Reason: they are fragile. Most often, they break when you grasp them with a tweezers.
Tape. First, try touching the spot lightly with tape. The stickers should stick to the tape. You can use packaging tape, duct tape or another very sticky tape.
Wax Hair Remover. If tape doesn't work, use wax hair remover. Put a thin layer on. Let it air dry for 5 minutes. You can also speed up the process with a hair dryer. Then peel it off with the stickers. Most will be removed. The others will usually work themselves out with normal shedding of the skin.

For larger splinters, slivers or thorns, remove with a needle and tweezers.
Check the tweezers first. Be certain the ends meet exactly. If they do not, bend them so they meet. Clean the needle and tweezers with rubbing alcohol before using them.
Caution: do not clean the area before removal. Reason: doing so before removal could push the sliver in deeper.
Use the needle to uncover the large end of the sliver. Use good lighting. A magnifying glass may help.
Grasp the end of the sliver firmly with the tweezers. Pull it out at the same angle that it went in. Get a good grip the first time. This is important for slivers that go straight into the skin. This is also important for those trapped under the fingernail.
For slivers under a fingernail, sometimes part of the nail must be cut away. Use a fine scissors to expose the end of the sliver.
Slivers (where you can see all of it) often can be removed at home. Pull on the end. If the end breaks off, open the skin with a sterile needle. Go along the length of the sliver and flick it out.
Clean the skin with soap and water after removal.

Wash the area with soap and water before and after removal.
Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin) once after the sliver is taken out. No prescription is needed. This will help to lower the risk of infection.

To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the package.
If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.