Infected splinter - how do you know if a splinter is infected?

A splinter is an object that is stuck under the skin, usually in the feet or hands. Common foreign objects that can be found under the skin accidentally include wood, plastic and metal.

There are some tell-tale signs of an infected splinter, but first, it’s important to understand what a splinter looks like, what the usual symptoms are, and where splinters are generally found in the skin.

A splinter will often feel painful at the site, and you will usually be able to see or feel something under the skin. A small speck or line may also be found under the skin, which is commonly spotted on the fingers, hands or feet.

The main signs of an infected splinter are:

• The pain has increased significantly
• The pain is throbbing or sharp
• Redness, swelling and warm to the touch
• Increased sensitivity
• Yellowish discharge or pus and drainage present

Splinters can be caused by many instances, such as by handling wood, metal or when gardening plants with thorns and branches. Some other examples of causes include:

• Falling or sliding on wooden floors
• Butchers sometimes end up with small splinters of bone when handling meat
• Stepping on shards of glass or a plate
• Falling while running and cycling, causing road debris or gravel to enter the skin
• Handling broken or damaged plastic

Foreign bodies can end up inside fingers or feet unintentionally and often happen accidentally during an injury. Oftentimes, people’s jobs can put them at an increased risk of foreign bodies entering the skin, such as carpenters, manufacturing jobs, roofers, bricklayers and gardeners.

Removing a splinter can be relatively straightforward and simple, but sometimes it can be difficult if the splinter is hard to see or not poking out of the skin.

Here are some steps to remove a splinter from the skin:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and the area around the splinter with soap and water.
2. Inspect the splinter, if it’s very small you should use a magnifying glass and good lighting for better visibility.
3. Soak the affected part in warm water for a few minutes to encourage the splinter to make its way out of the skin partially if it isn’t already.
4. Sterilise a pair of tweezers and a needle with rubbing alcohol and start to bring the splinter to the surface with the needle.
5. Once the splinter is at the surface, using the tweezers, carefully pull on the end that is poking out of the skin and gently remove.
6. Prevent infection by washing the area with soap and then cleaning with the Elastoplast Wound Spray, an antiseptic wound cleansing spray which protects effectively against infections, which is also pain-free upon application.
7. Cover the affected area with the Second Skin Protection Hydrocolloid Advanced Plaster, which are designed to provide protection and treatment for everyday wounds like splinters, ensuring a clean environment for faster healing.

The Second Skin Protection Hydrocolloid Advanced Plaster is a plaster which offers ultra-thin, waterproof protection that accelerates wound healing. The patches are discreet, flexible and create a protective barrier that seals against dirt and bacteria.

The steps to treat an infected splinter are similar to how you would remove a splinter from the skin. However, if the area is infected, it’s important to ensure the appropriate steps are taken. These include:

1. Wash your hands and clean the area carefully but thoroughly.
2. Soak the infected splinter in warm water.
3. Use sterile instruments such as tweezers and a needle to remove the splinter.
4. Once the splinter has been removed, apply an ointment such as the Elastoplast Wound Healing Ointment on the wound. This ointment supports and speeds up the natural healing of minor superficial wounds like cuts, abrasions and scratches as well as first and smaller second-degree burns.
5. For infected splinters on fingers, apply a Fabric Finger Strip which provides extra protection for the finger, is durable, breathable and water-repellent to ensure the wound is covered from dirt and bacteria. For larger wounds, the Second Skin Advanced Hydrocolloid Protection XL patches provide extra strong hold for several days and offers soothing relief from pain as the patches accelerate the natural healing process.
6. Monitor the wound over the next couple of days and change any dressings when required.

If a splinter has caused an infection and it is deeply embedded in the skin, you should always consult a medical professional for immediate treatment. This is due to the risks that splinters that are deeper in the skin could have. Typically, a medical professional will be able to remove the splinter to prevent infection if it hasn’t already occurred. You should also seek immediate medical advice if:

• The area around the splinter is bleeding a lot.
• The skin around the area looks infected, i.e. very inflamed, red, swollen and showing signs of pus.
• The splinter is underneath a fingernail or toenail and is difficult to reach.
• Your child’s vaccines are not up to date.

Splinters can be prevented by taking steps to ensure your safety when carrying out tasks such as gardening, or leisure activities like cycling. It’s important to wear gloves when cycling or running to ensure you have more protection if you fall, as well as wearing protective gloves when gardening to minimise the risk of thorns and branches piercing the skin.

While not as common as splinters in the fingers and hands, splinters can also occur in the feet if you are not wearing footwear. Therefore, you should always wear shoes on wooden surfaces like decks to prevent splinters in the feet.