In unattended to will a splinter work itself out of the skin, or deeper into the skin?

Question

As in, I cant get to it on the bottom of my foot, and I do nothing.
Will it eventually come off as new skin grows and forces out the older skin, or do I REALLY have to get this thing out before it gets into my body somehow?

Its on my heal, right at a spot I cant get to nomatter how I twist my foot and leg.

And since its the heal the skin is alot more dense.

okay thanks...gonna work to try getting it out

1 1/2 hours of pulling my sweat pants at the ankles to keep my foot in position to dig that sucker out of my heel.
But its down.
Sucker was long, and it was really tough to get out.

I have a crater about 1'2 inch around with 3 layers of skin pulled off, but I got that thing. 1/4 of an inch long was it.
lucky for me it was kinda think as I reached in deep and was able to yank it all at once.

I was actually planning to leave it alone.
Glad you guys talked me out of it.
Thanks!

Oh, and didnt have any needles around so it was done with blunt tweezers. Talk about painful

Answer 1

it will probably work itself in deeper and infect. you dont know what it is from or what bacteria was on it..you should go to a dr soon and have it dealt with before it causes real trouble

Answer 2

I would suggest exhausting all resources before leaving it alone. i.e. soaking it in Epsom salt will help draw it out. Get a friend involved if possible.

You're body's natural defense against foreign bodies will kick in and surround the splinter, then you'll have very nice scare tissue and possibly an infection.

Answer 3

You should get the thing out. It will work its way in deeper. Clean it, pick at the surrounding skin with a needle, and tweezer it out.