Tricks for getting out a splinter

[Tyredofallthis1]

I've got a tiny one in the pad of my finger. I've got germolene and a plaster on it, but it's the first one I've had for decades. I thought I would ask any tips to get the dratted thing out before I start prodding with a needle (seems to be fully in, so tweezers are no good). I have faith in the combined wisdom of Mumsnet.

Soak in warm water?

You could try using one of the calpol syringes to suck it out

If it's wooden, soak your hand in water for a while. The wood will absorb some water and get a bit bigger, and then be easier to grab hold of.

They all work their own way out eventually though, as new skin grows from underneath

Thank you!

I can see me sitting with my hand in a bowl for a while. That will be relaxing!

I hadn't thought of the calpol syringe. It's a bit too deep at the moment, but I've got a spare one stashed.

Old wives tale- place a bit of onion soft side down over the splinter, cover it tightly with a sticky plaster then cover that with a little bandage and leave it for a few hours, overnight if you can. The onion draws out the end of the splinter so you can just grab the end of it with tweezers.

You can buy Mag Sulph paste in a pharmacy. It’s a drawing ointment, slather it on a plaster and leave it for a while, then soak and repeat. Works on manky ingrown toenails too 🤢

@Cryingbutstilltrying

You can buy Mag Sulph paste in a pharmacy. It’s a drawing ointment, slather it on a plaster and leave it for a while, then soak and repeat. Works on manky ingrown toenails too 🤢

Apparently works for stubborn blackheads too.

I will be able to get to a pharmacy tomorrow, so I'll pick up some Mag Sulph. I can try the onion one tonight.

I'm not sure that it will be easy to pick out because it's like a dot. So annoying.

Also incredibly trivial in the great scheme of things, but I thought it was worth asking here.

My mum used to make soap and sugar poultices for splinters - very effective they were, too.

You soften some soap in hot water until you can scrape it off, like a jelly, put it on a piece of cloth, sprinkle sugar over the top, and tie the whole lot over the place where the splinter is. Leave it to draw the splinter out. A good old folk remedy!

I like the sound of the soap and sugar remedy. Do you think it would work with liquid soap?

Appreciate all suggestions.

I use a sterilised needle to break the skin and push it out with my nail and then grab with tweezers.

Imo nowt as satisfying as sitting with a needle picking out a spelk!! Numb with an ice pack first and dig away!!

@Tyredofallthis1 sorry, just seen your post - I don't know whether liquid soap would work - but worth a try?

Soap and sugar poultice is the way to go.
You’ll need a bar of soap, scrape a bit off and mix to a soft paste with some granulated sugar, you made need a few drops of water if the soap is very dry. Pile on the site of the splinter and hold in place with a bandage or plaster overnight. The splinter should come out easily next morning.

I just took the plaster off that had covered it and the large dollop of germolene all night. My finger is a complete prune, but the splinter is still in. Meh.

It's only a tiny dot, so I'm hoping that the sugar and soap will draw it out, because I think I'm going to struggle with a needle.

It's going to drive me batty until it's sorted. Thank you for all the suggestions.

I just use a pin. It doesn't hurt much, you just.lift the first layer of skin then nudge it out.

Bicarbonate of soda mixed to a paste with water and applied with a plaster on top should help to draw it out.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/sporner_corner

If you fancy some expert advice (and pleas of descriptions and pictures) come on over to the dark side that is known as Sporner Corner cackles evilly

@Stath - I'm scared to look!!!

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut it hurts enough now before prodding it!

@cataline I shall try that as well.

(can you tell I'm fed up with it?)

@Halsall

My mum used to make soap and sugar poultices for splinters - very effective they were, too.

You soften some soap in hot water until you can scrape it off, like a jelly, put it on a piece of cloth, sprinkle sugar over the top, and tie the whole lot over the place where the splinter is. Leave it to draw the splinter out. A good old folk remedy!

We used to do this. Always worked - still does, for me!

@Tyredofallthis1 Did you get it out?

Washing up liquid and sugar, plaster over the top.

I've spread a thin layer of superglue over the affected area which pulls the splinter out when peeled off. It's good for splinters which are at the surface but have no end to grab hold of. It's important to make sure you peel off the the right direction too (i.e the opposite of the way the splinter went in).

I would suggest soaking in some Dettol and warm water because it sounds sore. This would counteract infection.

@cataline Drink was taken last night so didn't trust myself with a plaster.

@glimpsing I had lots of germolene on it, which I thought would soften as well as disinfect. It's not so sore now.

@ClaudiaWankleman I am extremely accident prone so never trust myself with superglue. I can't tell what direction the dratted thing went in - it's just an annoying speck!

@RonniePickering That sounds interesting, though I may stick to hand soap. I'm not sure where we have the sugar. We don't eat healthily here, but we buy stuff with sugar already added, so I don't actually use it much.

Thank you for all the tips. I will have a go tonight.