Darn those splinters! One minute you're happily walking across the wooden deck and the next minute — yow! You examine the soft, pink sole of your foot to find a teeny, tiny piece of wood stuck in there. You might even feel a little pinch with every step. What should you do?
Here are three steps to get that splinter out of your life, so you can go back to having fun:
Usually, splinters can be handled at home. But in some cases, you might have to visit the doctor. See a doctor if your splinter seems too deep, is bleeding a lot, can't be removed, or it seems infected (red, puffy, warm to the touch, or containing pus). Splinters under the fingernail may be hard to remove at home. But usually, a grown-up can remove a splinter just fine.
What's better than having that splinter out of your foot? Never getting it stuck there in the first place! Not all splinters can be prevented, but you'll avoid a lot of them if you take these steps:
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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