It can prevent you from getting an infection.
Splinters are small foreign bodies that accidentally slip under the skin. Thin pieces of wood, plant or animal thorns, they usually lodge in the hands or feet. Under the skin, the splinter can irritate and even be painful. This foreign body can remain hidden inside the wound, it can cause an infection according to the MSD Manuals. That’s why it’s important to dislodge it quickly, but it’s not always easy. An emergency doctor shares his technique with us.
There are several methods for removing a splinter: tweezers, needles, tape, fingernails, and even teeth. Done incorrectly and with unwashed or unsterilized equipment, these methods can make the wound worse. California emergency room physician Dr. Joe Whittington recently shared in a video on his TikTok account, a way to easily remove a splinter without making the wound worse. To do this, you must first obtain a medicine syringe. This type of equipment is used as a dispenser and can be found in boxes of children’s syrup, for example. It is essential to obtain a clean, unused syringe. How to use it properly to remove the splinter?
@drjoe_md Here’s a simple splinter removal hack using a syringe: First, obtain a clean, unused syringe without the needle. Cut off the tip of the syringe to create a small opening. Place the opening over the splinter, ensuring a tight seal around the area. Slowly pull back on the plunger, creating suction to draw the splinter out of the skin. This method is effective for shallow splinters, as the vacuum created by the syringe can gently pull the splinter out without causing additional damage to the surrounding skin. Ensure the area is cleaned and sterilized both before and after the procedure to prevent infection. #lifehacks #firstaid #momtips #splinter original sound – Dr. Joe, MD
Upstream, it is advisable to cut the end of the medication syringe to create a small opening. Then, it is necessary to locate the splinter. It does not go unnoticed, it is enough to identify it with the pain, but also by observing the presence of the small foreign body in transparency under the superficial layer of the skin. After disinfecting the skin, place the hole of the syringe on the end of the splinter, making sure that the area is well closed on the skin. By slowly pulling the plunger of the syringe back to create suction, the splinter can be extracted from the skin without pain.
After removing the splinter, disinfect the area again. This method is effective for shallow splinters because the suction created by the syringe can gently remove the splinter without causing further damage to the skin.