How to Remove a Hair Splinter:
There are several types of hair splinters. They include:
1) Bone fragments (bony spurs) 2) Wood fragments 3) Nails 4) Glass shards 5) Plastic 6) Other materials 7)
The most common type of hair splinter is bone fragments. These usually occur when someone falls or otherwise impacts their head on hard surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, gravel, wood or other objects.
These fragments may cause a headache, neck pain, numbness and tingling in your fingers and toes, weakness in one or both legs or even paralysis. You may experience bleeding into the brain which could lead to seizures. If this happens it is best to seek immediate medical attention from a doctor.
Another type of hair splinter is glass shards. These typically occur when someone drops something sharp like a pen onto a smooth surface such as glass or plastic. The shards may cause cuts, bruises, swelling and bruising.
If you have been injured by a hair splinter, then you need to take care of the wound immediately so that it does not become infected. The first thing you should do is wash the area with soap and water. Then apply ice packs or cold compresses until the injury heals up completely. It is also recommended that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help relieve any pain and reduce swelling.
If you have any type of open wound of any sort, you need to be extra careful about preventing infections. If you notice redness, swelling, pus, or other signs of possible infection, then you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or at an emergency room.
Another type of hair splinter is wood fragments. These typically occur when someone uses a dull knife or other sharp object to cut through wood. The splinters are typically very small and can actually become embedded in the skin without you even realizing it. They then become a problem when they work themselves deeper into the skin causing pain and infection.
If you are unfortunate enough to get a splinter in your skin, do not panic. The first thing you should do is clean the area with water and antibacterial soap. Then apply an adhesive bandage over the area. If the splinter is exposed, you can use tweezers to gently remove it, but if it is under the skin then your doctor can remove it in his office.
Applying a warm cloth or even soaking in a warm bath may help the splinter to work its way out of your skin naturally. If this fails, then see your doctor so that he can remove it from your skin office. Never use a sharp object to try to dig the splinter out as this could cause the splinter to become embedded even deeper in your skin or cause other types of damage.
The last type of hair splinter is carpet fibers. You may not even be aware that you have this type of hair splinter because they are so small and can go unnoticed for quite some time before causing any problems. Carpet fibers work their way into your skin when you fail to completely remove all of the hairs after shaving or waxing.
If you notice a small, hard bump on your skin, then you could have a carpet fiber embedded under the surface. Unlike wood or hair splinters, carpet fibers do not cause pain and are not always visible to the eye.
The best way to prevent carpet fiber problems is by using electric razors and wax strips for hair removal. If you do have a carpet fiber in your skin, wash the area with soap and water and apply an antiseptic ointment twice a day until the area heals up completely.
Sources & references used in this article:
Splinter remover by JE Towns – US Patent 2,451,994, 1948 – freepatentsonline.com
Splinter puller by HW Stokes – US Patent 4,020,846, 1977 – Google Patents
Tweezers by FJ Dowling – US Patent 1,714,593, 1929 – Google Patents
Tweezers by B Harold – US Patent 3,280,665, 1966 – Google Patents
