Splinters may be small and sometimes difficult to see, but they can make their presence felt by tucking themselves in at uncomfortable angles under the skin of unsuspecting fingers and toes.
Removing splinters can be quite painful if you go about it the wrong way, but there are a couple of quick ways to get the job done. It is a good idea to first disinfect the area, and any tools you will be using, before attempting to take the splinter out. With a small needle, open the skin above the splinter and when the splinter head becomes visible, grasp it with tweezers and pull it out slowly.
Clean the area again with disinfectant. Alternatively, mix together a paste out of 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the splinter site and cover with a bandaid. After 24 hours, remove the bandaid. If the splinter head is sticking out of the skin, remove the splinter with tweezers. If not, repeat the method with new paste and another band-aid every 24 hours until the splinter is gone.
