I have something similar to a splinter in my finger except I don't think it's wood. I was unable to remove it and it is beneath the surface of my finger. If I leave it in, will my finger become infected? Is it imperative that it be removed?
2007-04-02 09:43:35 · 12 answers · asked by Wayne 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
It depends on a LOT of things. I am almost 46 years old, and I swear I must have enough splinters in my feet to equal a whole tree... When I was younger I ran around barefoot all the time (still do whenever I can). Sometimes my dad (a doctor, himself) would sterilize a needle with a match and pick the bugger out... other times, I preferred the momentary pain of a stuck splinter to a needle in the foot.
That said, some splinters become infected and some do not. Best thing to do is some preventative care.
Soak your finger in hot water (as hot as you can stand it - not boiling... not scalding) for about 15 to 20 minutes. That should loosen your skin enough to make the splinter either float out on its own, or make it easier to tweeze it out.
If the splinter does not come out after soaking, then the hot water will have, at least, caused your infection-fighting white blood cells to rise closer to the surface of your skin... You'd be amazed at how well a simple thing like hot soaks help keep infections down.
In addition, as long as the splinter is lodged in your finger, keep soaking it nightly... pat it dry... may dip it in a small bowl of hydrogen peroxide... pat dry, and then use a little Neosporin with a Band-aid.
Now, let's say you do all those things and the pain continues and gets worse, maybe the area around the splinter reddens and gets tender... if that happens, after all your preventative care, then go to your doctor... you might need some antibiotics... and maybe, at worse, the doc might need to lance your finger and get the splinter out.
One last consideration... where did you get the splinter? And when was your last tetanus shot? If it's been more than ten years, I would definitely go for the tetanus shot, to be on the safe side.
2007-04-02 09:58:40 · answer #1 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 9⤊ 0⤋
The sight of the splinter can fester and become swollen with signs of an infection {increased redness, pain, puss like a pimple etc...} The best way to remove it would be to wash the area and try to back it out the way it went in with needle nose tweezers or a small needle cleaned with alcohol first. Sometimes waiting a day or so will actually help the splinter to work it's own way out but you must keep the area clean. Though in some cases the body just heals over the area and it will stay put so you should try to remove it before the area heals over. If there is any problem or there are signs of infection call a doc and get further advice.
2016-03-22 15:36:38 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
What happens if you don't remove a splinter?
I have something similar to a splinter in my finger except I don't think it's wood. I was unable to remove it and it is beneath the surface of my finger. If I leave it in, will my finger become infected? Is it imperative that it be removed?
2015-08-18 19:48:03 · answer #3 · answered by Cheryl 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Splinter In Finger
2016-10-07 07:36:31 · answer #4 · answered by blind 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it needs to come out, try breaking the skin with a needle and tweezers to remove. What is the splinter and where did you get it? You need to know if the source is a likely tetanus threat, if so get a tetanus booster too.
If you still can't get the splinter out, try Magnesium Sulphate paste under a plaster, this will draw it out plus any pus. You can buy the paste over the pharmacy counter.
2007-04-02 09:59:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It could get infected. Try digging it out with some tweezers or a sewing needle. If you still can't get it out, go to the doctor.
2007-04-02 09:51:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it will either work its way deeper into your skin or it will get infected and it will make a bump then you pop the pus sack and it will come out with that
if it is a pressure treated splinter then i would go to the doctors because the stuff they put on the wood is harmful to you
2007-04-02 09:59:39 · answer #7 · answered by Firefighter_2003 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, if you leave it there too long it will get infected and you'll have to let the doctor look at it.
2007-04-02 09:48:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it didn't go too deep then you're probably okay. but keep and eye on it. if it gets red or sore, get it removed.
2007-04-02 09:46:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2015-08-04 18:47:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋