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Original poster

Pencil "lead" stuck under skin

27 replies

irishmurdoch · 05/04/2024 20:51

My DD has somehow managed to get s piece of pencil stuck under her skin just under her eyebrow.. long story short, i thought it was a tiny bruise from a football hitting her in the face but she's only just told me a month later that she had an accident with a pencil at school the same day. Any advice on whether it will work its way out or whether there are any steps I need to take?

OP posts:
MassiveOvaryaction · 05/04/2024 21:26

Dh had what I thought was an odd mole on his arm when we met. He told me it was from where a school chum stabbed him with a pencil during a scrap. It's not there any more, think it only came out a few years ago though, so around 30 years?!

If it happened to one of my dc id probably seek medical advice.

Rocknrollstar · 05/04/2024 21:49

You could try putting magnesium sulphate paste on it and cover with a dressing. It should draw it out.

SabertoothKwazi · 05/04/2024 21:53

Rocknrollstar · 05/04/2024 21:49

You could try putting magnesium sulphate paste on it and cover with a dressing. It should draw it out.

I’d be wary about putting something that strong on her eyelid/very close to her eye.
It’s probably not going to get infected if it hasn’t already done so. I’d try to book a non-urgent appointment if that’s at all feasible in your area at the moment.

LongLostSock · 05/04/2024 21:57

I have one from a pencil stabbing at school...a few years back I caught the area and while it was open decided to do a bit of digging...no lead but the skin is permanently coloured from it, even after healing. Picture added for proof...its been 30 years...

But close to the eye, I'd probably get her checked by a Dr and see what they say.

Pencil "lead" stuck under skin
ggggggooooo · 05/04/2024 21:59

It is basically an unintentional tattoo

Rowen32 · 05/04/2024 22:03

Knew someone who had that happen, it never went away, it just looked like a dark freckle!

RosieCosy · 05/04/2024 22:09

Given it's so close to her eye I'd probably get it looked at. Is it sore or anything

aloysiusflyte · 05/04/2024 22:09

Yes, I've still got a mark on my forehead from accidently leaning on a classmates pencil when I was picking something up from the floor. It must have been in my head for 35 years now and has never caused me any problems!
I remember being taken to see the school nurse who decided it would be ok but they weren't really sure what to do about it.

EricHebbornInItaly · 05/04/2024 22:10

I’ve had one stuck in my knee for 34 years 😂

HappierTimesAhead · 05/04/2024 22:11

DH also has one stuck in his forehead from getting stabbed with a pencil by his brother about 30 years ago.

Reallybadidea · 05/04/2024 22:11

I had a bit of one in my leg for 31 years. It suddenly re-emerged during a night shift a few years ago, it was very exciting 🤣

SoulMole · 05/04/2024 22:13

I've had one in my hand since 1987. No ill effects. But obviously the face / eye may be an issue for more cosmetic reasons.

TriceratopsRocks · 05/04/2024 22:20

Like others, I got stabbed with a pencil in my knee, aged about 8-10. It looked very much like the photo posted up thread. It's still there, although quite faint now, and I'm 54. It has never been an issue.

MustDust · 05/04/2024 22:27

This is a weird coincidence, DS showed me today where he has the same on his hand thanks to accidently stabbing himself a while back, I suggested magnesium sulphate as above. Will give it a go when he's home and see if we have any success. But he's also the child who had to have a splinter removed under GA so there's a chance his body likes holding onto crap.

BellaBaxter · 05/04/2024 22:31

I got pencil lead stuck in my hand 35 years ago - it's still there 😅

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/04/2024 22:35

I used to be an art teacher. One horrible Y8 stabbed another in the leg with a pencil.

The lead snapped in his leg. He had to have an operation to remove it.

Ponderingwindow · 05/04/2024 22:35

I have had a spot for 40+ years. Someone finally explained to me that there was never a solid piece of pencil there. It’s a tattoo. I had been so confused as a young child why they were just leaving it there.

unless you feel a lump, your child now probably has the same.

Dorriethelittlewitch · 05/04/2024 22:51

My dad got jabbed just under his eyebrow at primary school. He still had the mark when he died at least sixty years later.

OnTheBoardwalk · 05/04/2024 22:55

All these pencil stabbing incidents from 40 years ago! Love it

MarjorieDanvers · 05/04/2024 22:58

Another child victim of a pencil stabbing! It’s in my thigh and been there for 55 years! Looks exactly like the picture posted by @LongLostSock

Eyebrow does seem more worrying - especially as there was no natural expulsion to date!

MmedeGouge · 05/04/2024 23:08

I have one in my hand too, from 1975.

Original poster
irishmurdoch · 05/04/2024 23:17

Many thanks for all the replies... I think I will get it checked out but have a feeling the GP isn't going to say anything much different to the advice here, ie she'll have to live with it! Thanks again.

OP posts:
WingateAndSlim · 05/04/2024 23:25

My DD has a tiny bit in her thigh from falling with an overly sharp pencil given to her at a National Trust Easter hunt when she was eight!

hoonicorn · 05/04/2024 23:59

I also still have one in my hand from primary school. Over 25 years ago

TheFormidableMrsC · 06/04/2024 00:01

I've got one on my bum from being stabbed by a pencil at school. It's still there 40 years later!

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