Splinter in DD3 thumb

[Algarythmnmadness]

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embedded deep - just had a go at getting it out, it was like fighting an anaconda. She was so distressed we ended up giving up, putting a plaster back on.

what are your best tips to get them out?

I had a massive 2 inch splinter from the bannister once and the GP said to have a soak in the bath everyday and it would come out. It was really deep but by day 4 I was able to push it out.

Paste with bicarbonate of soda and water under a plaster overnight or 24hours helps bring the splitter to the surface so it’s easier to tweeze. I’ve used cello tape for glass too.

Soak it for ages to soften the skin then use the edge of a credit card to slide it out

Soak in warm water. A plaster alone is likely to push it in further so that's not helpful. The more you try to attack it with tweezers or squeeze it, the more swollen her finger will get and the harder it'll be to get it out. Just soak it in warm water until the end pokes out and then you can easily grab it without hurting her at all.

Overnight cover with a thick layer of sudocrem and a plaster. Plus a long soak in the bath. Chances are it will work it's way back to the surface and will come out more easily.
Just watch out for signs of infection.
With kids you either need to get it out immediately, if there's a little bit sticking out, or leave it a day or two (plus a soak) and it comes out much more easily. I think if you don't get it quickly first time it gets sore and painful.

Calpol syringes are brilliant at getting splinters out. Stick it over and remove the plunger it acts like a vacuum

Wow that's a great tip!
DS had a (huge) splinter in his leg that I couldn't get at. It looked tiny at first so we left it. About a week later he said it was hurting, I gave it a squeeze and it literally rose up out of his leg. Not that helpful I know, but he had no infection and don't think it would have come out in one piece if we'd kept digging at it etc.

My Dad's 1970's solution was to use a fresh razor blade to slice through enough layers to skin to just pick it out with tweezers. Terrifying but it hurt less than digging!!

I vote calpol sucker.

Magnesium Sulphate paste from the chemists. It's amazing at drawing splitters out!

We tried everything to get one out ds leg. Magnesium sulphate, calpol syringe. Elma cream to numb it and attempting to get it with tweezers. I gave up in the end and left it. It came out itself 10 days later. Ds just picked it out after it came to surface

Yup magnesium sulphate regularly and let it come out by itself. Ds had one right under his thumbnail and dr said trying to pull it out could make it worse if it broke off and left him open to infection. It took a while but it came out without any of us realising.

Soak in salt water as PPs have said and it'll work its way out.

YABVU not to post a pic on Sporners Corner!!

Make a poultice of sugar and soap, soften the soap with a few drops of water if necessary. Put a thick´layer over the site of the splinter and hold it in place with a bandage or plaster.
Leave for twelve hours, then you should be able to tweezer the splinter out.

Came here to say this. Use some of this, it’s perfect.
Was recommended to me by a GP.

Thanks everyone, it’s still in there but we’ve soaked it lots and hopefully it will become much easier to remove in a day or so.

the tip about the calpol syringe is fab, will definitely try it