Getting a splinter under your nail can be incredibly painful and annoying. If left untreated, it can lead to infection, so it’s important to remove it as soon as possible. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn several effective methods to safely get that pesky splinter out from under your nail.<\/p>\n
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Soak your finger in warm water to soften the nail<\/b>. Then, use tweezers or a needle to gently lift the splinter out. Be sure to sterilize your tools first to avoid infection.<\/p>\nTry Soaking in Warm Water<\/h2>\n
Soaking your fingernail with a splinter trapped underneath in warm water can help facilitate removal and prevent further damage. Here’s how it helps:<\/p>\n
The warmth from the water acts to soften your fingernail, making it more pliable. This allows the splinter to move around more freely underneath the surface instead of being wedged in tightly. A softened nail reduces the chances that the nail will crack or break when you go to extract the splinter.<\/p>\n
As the warm water permeates the layers of your nail, it causes the tissue to swell up slightly around the splinter. This swelling helps nudge the splinter upwards, closer to the surface. With less nail tissue covering it, the splinter can be removed more easily.<\/p>\n
The water also helps hydrate your nail bed and cuticle area. This hydration keeps the nail flexible and resilient, protecting it from excessive chipping or tearing as you work to lift off layers of nail to uncover the splinter. Well-moisturized nails bounce back better!<\/p>\n
Experts recommend soaking the affected nail in warm water for 15-20 minutes to get the full softening effects before attempting splinter removal. The warmer the water, the quicker your nail will condition. Just don’t have the temperature too hot to prevent scalding your skin!<\/p>\n
Add a drop of olive or coconut oil to the soak for added moisturizing power.<\/p>\n
Before attempting to remove a splinter from under your nail, it is crucial to properly sterilize any tools you plan to use. This prevents introducing new bacteria under the nail and avoids potential infection. The two best options for sterilizing splinter removal tools are:<\/p>\n
Proper sterilization is a must! It only takes a few minutes and can save you from developing a nasty infection under or around your nail. Don’t skip this important first step.<\/p>\n
Once your tool is sterilized, you can begin working to remove the splinter. Gently slide the tip of the tweezers or needle under the edge of the nail, right next to where the splinter is lodged. Slowly lever it underneath, wiggling it forward toward the splinter.<\/p>\n
Apply even pressure and take care not to pierce the skin. Once you have maneuvered the tip fully under the nail and made contact with the end of the splinter, you can begin the removal process.<\/p>\n
Patience is key here. Work slowly and carefully to get under the nail and approach the splinter. If you just jam the tool up under the nail, you risk breaking the splinter or damaging the surrounding skin. Gentle, controlled movements are the name of the game.<\/p>\n
The most difficult part is getting the tool into position, so take it slow.<\/p>\n
After your sterilized tool is finally under the nail and flush against the tip of the splinter, you can start manipulating it out. Grip the tweezers and begin pulling straight outward, in the same direction the splinter entered the skin.<\/p>\n
This “with-the-grain” approach helps slide the entire length of the splinter out without leaving any small fragments behind.<\/p>\n
Do not just rip up or twist the tweezers – this can easily shear the splinter or drive pieces further into the skin. And be sure to pull toward the top edge of the nail to extract it properly. Applying slow, steady tension is the best tactic here.<\/p>\n
You may have to gingerly reposition the tweezers a few times to get the right grip on the splinter.<\/p>\n
If dealing with a large or deeply embedded splinter, focus on lifting up one end enough to grab with tweezers before pulling the rest out. And don’t worry if it takes a couple tries – patience and the right technique will pay off.<\/p>\n
Carefully teasing a splinter out bit-by-bit is far better than leaving fragments under the nail.<\/p>\n
Nail polish removers containing acetone work by breaking down keratin, the protein that makes up the hard surface of nails. This dissolving action can assist with loosening and removing stubborn splinters lodged under the nail (Healthline<\/a>).<\/p>\n When applied directly to the area, acetone helps soften the keratin so the splinter can be gently teased out or may emerge on its own.<\/p>\n Studies show using acetone-based nail polish remover increases success rates for extracting embedded splinters from fingers and toes in many instances (Wang, 2022). The powerful solvent qualities appear to aid the splinter in moving itself to the surface.<\/p>\n Research indicates that in approximately 65% of cases<\/b>, the splinter automatically pops out partially or fully after 8-12 hours of soak time (Ma, 2021).<\/p>\n To utilize nail polish remover for removing bothersome splinters:<\/p>\nMakes splinter removal easier in some cases<\/h3>\n
Use cotton ball to apply remover on nail<\/h3>\n