How to get out a splinter

I usually get the nail clippers out and slowly and carefully clip around it - basically loosening the skin that is hold it in.

soak the injured part in warm water to make the skin pliable; then with a pair of tweezer, pull the splinter out. after that, apply ice to ease the swelling. :D

warm soapy water and soak them for ages , then it should come out easier , sorry that's the only tip I have for you , hope its better soon xx

get a needle, sterile it, and try to pry the skin above it to get to the splinter, try you best you dont want it to get infected, or to go to the hospital and have them do it!

Ouch! Splinters under the nail are really painful and almost impossible to get out. If there's any of it sticking past the skin, you might be able to use tweezers to get it out. You may have to clip the nail really short to be able to get at it, though. You shouldn't dig for it with needles or a knife, because even if you sterilize it it could still become infected or get pushed farther in. The natural growth of the nail will push the sliver out in time, or if you don't want to wait you could get a drawing salve, like Curet. Curet is a great product- you just dab some of the salve over the sliver, cover it with a bandage, and the salve will pull the foreign object out.

As a former ER doc, I'd like to add a suggestion. If you think you might land up having it removed in the ER or urgent care, please go sooner rather than later, and please don't apply anything that will wet it. Waiting and wetting makes it a lot tougher to remove.

This will perhaps sound like an odd one and I have yet to try it (but I want to!): smear pine sap on it. Apparently the sap works well as a counter-irritant and may make the area more inflamed for a brief period, but the splinter should work itself out within 48 hours. That's what I've read, at least. I have a tiny splinter on the knuckle of my thumb that I got at work yesterday, I'm tempted to go find a pine tree today and give it a go!

well if you don't want to Dr take it out for you then you have to leave it for some days then if you push it out it would come out every easy.

The same thing just happened to my husband. It was quite painfull. He had to wait a few days for,then he was able to grab the splinter with tweezers.

Funny you should say that becuase I've just now noticed two splinters under my nail...but it doesn't hurt. What I do when this happens is soak my hands in warm to hot water...then take a needle and try to pry it out. If that doesn't work, then because of the nail, your best bet is to just let the nail grow. As it grows, it will push out the splinter. Good luck.

Ooh! I hate when that happens to me :( First, wash your hands in antibacterial soap, then pat them dry carefully. Sterilise a needle and some tweezers, then use the needle to maneuver the splinter until it protrudes from the skin. Then take the tweezers and pull the splinter out slowly, be sure not to break it in half. It's painful, but it works! x

Thank you for starting this discussion. I have not read this discussion but I found it because WHAT A COINCIDENCE I have a splinter under my nail. I know it is there but it very uncomfortable if I grab things a certain way. It is on my dominant hand and no one is home but myself so I am having a time trying to get it out without any pain. I hope someone has a good idea. I think potatoes work for others but under the nail is a bit tricky.

OOOcchhhh! that totally hurts. I've tried that before too I just grab a needle and after that I took it with a knipper. It works though, but still hurts after.

Well, eventually, your body should naturally push the splinter out if it is under your nail. You could always go to the doctor and see if they can remove it.

I usually use some warm water for soaking and then a pair of fine tip tweezers. Tweezerman has some great fine point tweezers. then I usually disinfect the site with Hydrogen peroxide.