Overview

A foreign object in the skin might be anything from a tiny wood splinter to a large, jagged piece of glass. Serious wounds can be deep and dangerous with severe bleeding and a risk of infection.

Seek prompt medical help for a foreign object that is very painful or is deeply embedded in the skin or muscle. Follow these precautions and steps first:

• Don't try to remove the object. Doing so could cause further harm.
• Bandage the wound. First put a piece of gauze over the object. Then put clean padding around the object before binding the wound securely with a bandage or a piece of clean cloth. Take care not to press too hard on the object.