How to Treat a Wood Splinter

If you have ever handled or walked on wood, you have probably experienced a painful splinter. Splinters can usually be treated at home, but sometimes a splinter can cause an infection that requires professional medical treatment. You can take some simple steps at home to remove a splinter and protect the area from further pain or damage. Children most likely need an adult's help when dealing with splinters.

Things You'll Need

• Tweezers
• Needle
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Matches
• Soap
• Bandage
• Warm water
• Baking soda

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Instructions

• 1

  Pull out the wood splinter with tweezers if you can see it protruding from the surface of the skin. Clean the area with soap and water after removal and allow to heal naturally. Cover with a bandage if the affected area feels painful.

• 2

  Remove the splinter with a needle if it is below the skin surface. Place a needle in rubbing alcohol or a flame to disinfect it. Use a cotton ball to apply a small amount of alcohol to the area of skin around the splinter. Gently remove as much of the splinter as possible by carefully pushing it with the point of the needle. You may then use tweezers to completely remove it. Wash the skin with soap and water.

• 3

  Soak the infected skin area in a mixture of baking soda and water if the splinter is stuck under the surface of the skin and cannot be removed another way. Add enough baking soda to the water so that the mixture looks cloudy but the baking soda still dissolves. Apply the baking soda mixture two to three times per day until the splinter either works its way out naturally or can be removed with tweezers or a needle.

• 4

  Call a physician if the area becomes infected or if the splinter does not come out after a few days and is causing pain. Symptoms of infection are red skin, increased pain, draining (pus), swelling and fever. If a splinter is lodged underneath a fingernail it might need to be removed by a physician, as this area is difficult to get to.