How to quickly draw out even deep splinters without a needle, pain, or trip to the doctor even if they have been embedded for some time. One minute video demonstration included.
A splinter is a fragment of any foreign object that penetrates and becomes lodged inside one’s body. While splinters can come from a variety of materials such as glass, plastic, metal or even the spines of animals, for most people, splinters commonly occur on the fingers and hands from handling some type of plant matter such as a piece of wood.
When one experiences a splinter, pain as the sharp object initially penetrates the skin is usually felt. This is because the object has cut through the cutaneous layer of skin, settling into the subcutaneous layer below. While some splinters stay put at that point, most others will continue to move around, damaging additional tissue in the process.
Splinters that become lodged in the fingers or hand as would happen while doing yard work are usually very easy to remove with a simple needle that has been properly cleaned with alcohol first.
The Problem with Removing Splinters with Needles
The problem with this approach is that children don’t like it as picking at a splinter with a pointy object can sometimes hurt until part of the splinter is exposed and the rest pulled out with a pair of tweezers or a piece of tape.
The second problem with the needle approach is that it doesn’t always work if the splinter is very deep or quite thin and hard to see.
This happened to my husband recently when he got a thorn that was about an inch long deeply lodged in his left index finger while doing some yard work.
No matter how hard he tried to dig that thorn out with the traditional needle approach, he could not even find it let alone remove it.
It was just too deep.
At first, he figured the splinter would naturally work its way out. Splinters sometimes do this – the skin “pushes” them to the surface of the skin where they are easily removed a short time later with tweezers or your fingers.
That didn’t happen with this splinter. Waiting a few days made the situation much worse as the finger got very sore and began to swell.
Going to a Doctor Instead is Expensive
I became very concerned at that point because the finger was obviously infected. I suggested a trip to the doctor, but my husband wasn’t keen on that idea as the (out of network) holistic family doctor we called said it would cost $500 for the office required consultation and subsequent removal of the splinter.
$500 to remove a splinter? Unbelievable!
My husband then had the bright idea to ask his friend who is a veterinarian about the situation.
How to Remove a Splinter at Home with No Needles
The veterinarian said that removing even a deep splinter is easy with magnesium sulfate, better known as Epsom salts. Many people are familiar with an Epsom salt bath for sore muscles or to improve sleep.
This remedy uses Epsom salt in another hugely beneficial way – to draw toxins even a splinter right out of the skin. (1)
The veterinarian said you could either soak the finger a few times a day in a cup of warm water and Epsom salts or make a poultice with it. The poultice is much faster and more effective, however.
Such a method is supported in the scientific literature and very safe as well. (2)
Epsom Salts – How to Draw Out a Splinter
My husband decided to go with the poultice route. He took a small pinch of Epsom salts, placed it on the bandage section of a regular, large band-aid and wrapped the finger with it. He changed the bandage once a day or after it got wet in the shower.
Another option is to put a bit of magnesium sulfate paste (which costs just a few dollars) on the area and cover with a bandage. Magnesium sulfate is the same thing as Epsom salt.
This one minute video demonstrates the easy process. Be sure to clean the area well and use established first aid methods before and after the splinter is out of the skin. (3)
How Long Does it Take?
Within 2 days, it was apparent that the Epsom salts poultice had worked! The end of that thorn was ever so slightly sticking through the skin!
My husband pulled about 1/3″ of thorn out, but he could tell there was still more in there.
He continued to apply the Epsom salts poultice for one more day which caused the rest of the thorn to come to the surface of the skin as well. He used tweezers to pull the rest of the thorn out, which turned out to be about another 1/2″ in length.
Best of all, the swelling and soreness of the finger quickly resolved with the removal of the thorn. It has been a couple of months since this happened and the finger is perfectly fine.
Keep Magnesium Sulfate on Hand
I will be using the Epsom salts or magnesium sulfate paste on a bandage approach to remove all splinters that occur in our household from now on. I’ve purchased a small bottle of the magnesium sulfate paste, and it is now a permanent part of my medicine cabinet.
This approach suggested by our veterinary friend is far easier than using needles or enduring the drama of a doctor’s visit and there is surprisingly no pain at all involved.
One word of caution. If you choose to use the crystals instead of the paste, be sure to buy Epsom salts that are human-grade, rather than agricultural grade.
References
(1) Magnesium Sulfate Paste
(2) Use of Epsom Salts, historically considered
(3) Foreign object in the skin: First aid
Michelle Waite
I had a sliver a few weeks back that looked kind of nasty. I put some coconut oil with tea tree oil on it and the swelling was gone the next day and sliver popped right out.
Helen
Great advice! Thank you for sharing! Its so nice to be able to fix things our self, rather than having to go to the doctor. (although health care is (almost) for free here its nice not having to spend the time making the appointment and going to the doctor).
Helen
Jeanne
Just curious about why he would not get a tetanus shot! There have been several cases written up recently where people have survived tetanus, albeit with hospitalization and lots of medication. A preventative injection for a life-threatening disease seems an easy choice.
Tracy
Veterinarians get it done! Woot, woot. Best value in the medical profession and one of the most under-respected.
Anne
You can buy the cream from Swansonvitamins.com site (US)
They sell Kirkman brand.
Fiona
This is interesting! My daughter thinks she’s got a bit of glass stuck in her hand (there is abut of a lump there but it’s very close to the wristbone so it’s hard to know if it’s normal or not) anyway she says it hurts if she rubs it. We asked a doctor about it but he didn’t think there could be glass there (he said it felt more like maybe a bit of bone!) and not to worry about it! I have some Epsom salts at home so hopefully we can get it out!
Steve
http://www.magnoplasm.com.au/ works a treat!
Brandy
I used to work at a hospital with a very lively elderly volunteer group. One of my favorite ladies, Peggy, told me of the time somewhere in the 1960’s she helped her farmer husband with one of the large pieces of equipment in the field. She smashed her hand and refused to to go to the doctor. Her pinky and ring finger were mangled pretty badly but she sat with her hand in an Epsom salt tub FOR DAYS! She saved her two fingers with most of their mobility intact and never had an infection from it. The doctor told her after the fact that he would have removed them. Yeah for Peggy!
Carol
I stepped on a spam can as a child. Cut my foot almost to the bone. No money for doctors. No car at home. Only vehicle as gone to work with my Dad. My foot pouring blood , my Mom stuck it in a pan of kerosene to stop the bleeding. Did the same thing with my hand when I feel and broke a glass of tea I was carrying. I know people will cringe hearing this but it worked. Scars are barely visible.
John @ Maine
Too simple! As a rugged old guy, I think the needle is the best approach! But, in the spirit of adventure, I will try this epsom salt approach. Of course I know it won’t work as well as the tried an true needle approach 🙂
Great share!