Treatment

You can usually safely remove a small foreign object that's just under the surface of the skin. Examples of such an object are a wood splinter, thorn, and fragment of fiberglass. Follow these first-aid steps:

• Wash your hands and clean the area well with soap and water.
• Use tweezers cleaned with rubbing alcohol to remove the object. Use a magnifying glass to help you see better.
• If the object is under the surface of the skin, sterilize a clean, sharp needle by wiping it with rubbing alcohol. Use the needle to gently break the skin over the object and lift up the tip of the object.
• Use a tweezers to grab the end of the object and remove it.
• Wash the area again and pat dry. Apply petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment.