How many of you constantly get small shreds of wood or metal or glass embedded in the skin, by mistake? Well, I am one of those people, and I know how much that hurts. These small fragments of different material are called splinters, and can cause a great deal of discomfort. Try these home remedies for splinter to deal with them effectively.
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The symptoms of splinters include extreme pain in the area, discomfort, infection, redness, and swelling in the area.
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I have seen many people dig the skin with a tweezer, pin or a needle to remove the fragments for wood and metal or glass. This is an extremely unsafe technique. It can increase your risk of infection and cause extreme pain too. Instead of these unsafe methods, try these safer treatments to get rid of the splinter and to cure the infected area.
Home remedies for splinters
Here are the 10 best remedies you can try to get rid of the splinter without causing complication of any kind.
1. Duct Tape
This is definitely the easiest and safest ways to get rid of splinters, and so finds its place at the top of this list.
The remedy is pretty simple, but it works only when a part of the splinter is still out of the skin. If your splinter is completely embedded into your skin, then this remedy will not work, and you need to move on to the next remedy on our list.
For this remedy, you need to heat some water. Once it lukewarm, use it to wash the skin around the splinter. Also use soap to properly clean the area. Now let the skin dry. Paste a shred of duct tape on the part of the splinter that is hanging outside. Now gently rub it with your fingertip to ensure the tape has stuck to the splinter. After waiting for about 5 minutes, pull off the tape; remember to that in one smooth motion or else it will hurt a lot, and also not serve the purpose.
Now clean the area with lukewarm water, and you are done.
2. White Vinegar
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White vinegar is a great natural treatment for splinter. It makes the entire removal process so easy. Since vinegar is acidic, it causes the splinter to rise above the surface, making it super easy for you to remove it using a pair of tweezers.
For the remedy, you need to pour some white vinegar into a small cup. Now soak your affected area into it. If the splinter has entered your feet, you can put the white vinegar into a bucket for the treatment. After about 20 to 25 minutes, you will notice that the splinter has risen about the surface. This will make the pulling out easy and simple. If the splinter has not risen, then you need to keep the affected area soaked into the solution for a few more minutes.
After removing the splinter, clean the area with lukewarm water, thus ensuring you do not develop an infection.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
The next treatment involves hydrogen peroxide. This is a great way to deal with splinters. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, the solution lowers the inflammation that is a common symptoms associated with splinters, making the extraction easier.
Also, hydrogen peroxide disinfects the area, thus ensuring your do not develop an infection.
For the remedy you need to dip a clean cotton ball into 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide, and place the cotton on the affected skin. Seal it using a duct tape. Leave the tape on for at least a couple of hours, after which you can pulling out the splinter using a sterilized pair of tweezers.
Rinse out with lukewarm water.
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4. Epsom Salt
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Another great remedy for splinters is Epsom salt. This remedy works amazingly well for fully-embedded splinter.
This is how it works: Epsom salt draws out the water resent in the skin cells, thus bringing the splinter to the skin’s surface, making it super easy for you to pull out the splinter without any pain.
For the remedy, apply a pinch of the salt on the affected are, and use a bandage to cover the area. Leave it on through the day. Now when you remove the bandage, you will see that the splinter has come out to the surface. Using a sterilized pair of tweezers, pull the splinter out.
If required, you can repeat the process.
5. Banana Peel
Another simple yet effective remedy for splinters is banana peel. It helps remove the splinter without giving you any pain. It also ensures that you do not develop any infection due to its antimicrobial properties.
A banana peel contains numerous enzymes that make the skin soft, and make the splinter rise toward the splinter, making the extraction easier.
For the remedy, cut the banana peel into small pieces. Now use one, and place its white side on the affected area. Slowly press it inward. Now use a tape and secure the place. Leave it on through the night. Next morning, you can remove the splinter by using a pair of sterilized tweezers.
6. Raw Potato
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The next remedy on our list is raw potato. It is a super effective treatment for splinter, when the splinter is only partially visible. If the splinter is fully embedded that you cannot try this remedy.
For the treatment, you need to begin by washing a potato and cutting off a thick slice. Now place this slice on the area that has the splinter. You need to make sure that the potato’s flesh touches the splinter that’s outside the surface of the skin. Now slowly press the slice inward so that the splinter pierces the potato. Gently remove the potato make sure the splinter comes out with it.
7. Lavender Essential Oil
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To draw out a splinter, try lavender essential oil, which due to its antimicrobial properties, does not cause infections of any kind.
The essential oil also ensures that you get cured fast.
For the remedy, you need to take a few drops of essential lavender oil and apply it on the affected area. You should leave it on for at least two hours. You should keep checking time to time to ensure that the splinter risen a little. Now use a pair of sterilized tweezers, to pull out the splinter easily.
8. Honey
The next remedy on our list is honey. How does honey help dislodge a splinter? Well, when you apply honey on the affected area, it causes the splinter to move towards the surface, making it easier for you to pluck.
As honey is a natural moisturizer, you can apply it on your affected skin to soothe it. Since it is an antiseptic, it prevents infections.
For the remedy, you need to take a generous amount of natural honey, and apply it on the affected area. Apply a bandage on it, and leave it on, through the night. The next morning, use a pair of tweezers (sterilize them using rubbing alcohol) to remove the splinter.
Now using lukewarm water clean the area and once its dry, reapply honey to heal the skin.
9. Bread and Milk
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The last effective home remedy on our list which will help you get rid of the splinter is bread and milk. This is an ancient remedy that has been in use from centuries, and that speaks for how effective it.
For the remedy, begin by heating a cup of milk. Now take a piece of bread, and dip it in this milk. Apply it on your affected area that contains the splinter, and secure with a clean unused bandage. You need to leave it on through the night. Next morning remover the poultice. You will see that the splinter has come out. With lukewarm water, clean the area to make sure you don’t develop an infection.
Additional tips for splinters
Here are some extra tips that you can try in addition to the above remedies to get rid of the splinter as well as to prevent any sort of complication or infection.
- As soon as you remove the splinter, you need to properly clean the area with lukewarm water. This will ensure that you don’t develop an infection.
- Even when the area is completely healed and you feel no pain you need to keep it clean.
- Never squeeze the splinter to get rid of it, because this could further worsen your situation by breaking the splinter into tinier fragments, which are impossible to remove.
- If you plan to use tweezers, then do that only after apply rubbing alcohol on the instrument to sterile it before use.
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That is all we have on today’s post on home remedies for splinters. Was this helpful? Will you be recommending it to others too? If you have some remedies that you would like to share with us, then please do so in the comment section below.
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