Summer is splinter season.
We’re simply outside more this time of year, and that means increased exposure to shards of glass, woody debris and thorns.
It’s important to take care of splinters immediately because they can lead to infection, said Dr. Alan Li, a family practice physician
with The Everett Clinic in Marysville.
“Basically, you have a skin cut. You have a wound,” Li said. “And you don’t know what the splinter’s been through.”
In other words, any number of bacteria could be present on a splinter.
Li, who sees many splinters this time of year, mostly on the hands, recommends removing the splinter and monitoring the area for a few days.
Some splinters, especially tiny ones near the surface, will work their way out of the skin without any medical help. But if you notice redness or swelling, early signs of infection, you should visit your doctor or walk-in clinic.
Doctors can remove splinters and prescribe antibiotics to help fight infection.
Ask if your tetanus vaccination is up to date. Adults need tetanus booster shots every 10 years. People with diabetes can be particularly susceptible to infection caused by splinter wounds, Li said.
In some cases, splinters left under the skin can become permanently embedded, Li said. Scar tissue can surround the splinter and cause a lump, which can be painful or just irritating even when not infected.
“Your body generates a defense layer against the foreign body,” he said. “These kinds of tissues can grow bigger and bigger. How much? You don’t know.
“People will come to see us years later. “
In such cases, a surgeon can cut the splinter and the scar tissue out at the same time.
Before trying to remove a splinter at home, wash your hands and sterilize the area with an antiseptic such as rubbing alcohol or povidone-iodine solution.
You can try removing splinters with sterilized tweezers or even a sticky piece of duct tape by pulling the splinter out in the direction it went into the skin. If that doesn’t work, you can use a sterilized needle to get the splinter out.
Rather than trying to lift the splinter out by going in through the puncture track, poke through the skin from a different entry point on the side to prod it out, Li said.
“If you follow the track, sometimes you will push the particle in even deeper. Go sideways. You may have some luck.”
Using a magnifying glass can help. Avoid applying pressure near the wound, which can drive the splinter in deeper.
“If you cannot remove it, don’t be a hero,” Li said. “Come to the doctor’s office.”
Once you’ve removed the splinter, sterilize again and bandage the wound to prevent infection.
Then get back outside and be more careful around woody objects. Wear shoes or sandals.
“We still want people to be active, outside especially,” Li said. “Stay outside. Be active.”
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