My 5 yr old has a splinter underneath his fingernail. The top of the splinter is just barley exposed. I'm pretty sure I can pull it out myself..but...he is terrified of allowing me to go near it with tweezers. He screamed and cried and refused to let me do anything but trim the nail. He says it does hurt him. Finally I gave up. I've read that the nail may push it out itself. Should I take him to the doctor to remove it? It doesnt look infected or red and it isn't bleeding. I know it's uncomfortable for him though. Any ideas?? Thanks!
Thanks for you help everybody! The nail grew out enough and the splinter was able to be pulled out. He let his dad pull it out. It's all gone!
Yes, I would take him to the doctor. My granddaughter had one stuck in her foot about that age and refused to let me dig it out. It got infected. I had to take her to the doctor anyway. You might try soaking it in Epson Salts. G. W
This is a "cure" a friend of mine used. She said is worked like magic! You mix up baking soda, hydrogen
peroxide, tiny bit of salt. Put the mixture on the area with the splinter for about 10 minutes & the bubbles will draw out the splinter.
This is the website where she got this:
http://www.associatedcontent. com/article/ 804005/a_ painfree_ way_to_remove_ splinters
Just wait until he is deeply asleep and try the tweezers. If it doesn't come out, just keep it clean and it will probably come out on it's own. I have heard of some sort of paste you can make to help bring splinters to the surface. I think I heard it was on the flylady.com website. I'm not sure, sorry, and good luck!
It couldn't hurt that much or he would let you do it. You can try numbing it with ice or doing it while he is asleep. Or just holding him down. I wouldn't take him to the doctor for something so trivial. The nail will indeed push it out. It will just take time. He couls also try to do it himself. Or cover his eyes.
Good luck,
L.
If it is not infected and he won't let you touch it, just keep it clean with hydrogen peroxide (the foaming action may loosen it up). It will eventually come out with the growth of the nail.
I also read online that you can use wood glue or elmer's glue. Apply to the end of the nail and let it harden. It may soak into the wood of the splinter and help you pull it out.
GL!
Taking him to the dr is going to cost you money. If you think you can pull it out yourself, then get someone else to help lay on top of him to keep him from moving and pull the sucker out. He'll get over it.
Poor little guy!!!! My five year old had one last year. His was way too deep to pull it out so we just waited on it. We explained to him that his body would take care of it and "push" it out and so he bought it and we just waited. Eventually, it did come out on its own!!!
Good luck!!!
~B.
ichthomal ointment put on the splinter and covered will draw splinter out.i'm not sure if spelled right, but works wonderfully. the ointment is black,looks ugly but works.
