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Common Conditions We Treat at Vitality Urgent Care

Condition icon: Skin
Splinters and Foreign Objects

A splinter is a small piece of wood, glass, metal, or other material stuck under the skin. Most can be removed at home if you know how to remove a splinter safely. Deep splinters, glass, and fishhooks are easier and safer to remove in the clinic.

What Is It

Wood splinters can break apart and are more likely to cause infection. Glass and metal can be hard to see. Splinters under a fingernail or in the foot can be painful and deep. Any object left in the skin can lead to infection.

Symptoms

  • A small object visible under the skin
  • Pain when pressing on the area
  • A feeling that something is stuck
  • Redness around the splinter
  • Swelling
  • Pus or warmth if infected

Not sure if it’s infected? Redness, warmth, and swelling that spread after a day or two may be cellulitis. A deep cut from glass may need closing, covered under cuts and lacerations.

Treatment

At your visit: A splinter or object can be removed with sterile tools, sometimes after numbing the area. An X-ray can help find glass or metal that is hard to see. The wound is cleaned, and a tetanus shot may be updated.

At home:

  • Wash your hands and the area with soap and water
  • Use clean tweezers to pull the splinter out at the same angle it went in
  • Use a sterilized needle to lift the skin over a shallow splinter
  • Clean the area and cover it with a bandage

Small splinter wounds usually heal within a few days.

When to Get Care for a Splinter

Most splinters can be cared for at home. If you are not sure what it is, or it is not getting better, Vitality Urgent Care is here to answer your questions and advise the right treatment. No appointment is needed.

FAQ

How do you remove a splinter?

Remove a splinter by cleaning the area, then using clean tweezers to pull it out at the same angle it went in. A sterilized needle can lift the skin first.

What if a splinter is too deep?

A splinter that is too deep to grab should be removed in the clinic. Digging at it can push it deeper or cause infection.

Will a splinter come out on its own?

Small splinters sometimes work their way out on their own. Large, deep, or glass splinters usually need to be removed.

How do I know if a splinter is infected?

An infected splinter becomes more red, swollen, warm, and painful, and may drain pus. Red streaks need care right away.

Can urgent care remove a splinter?

Yes, urgent care can remove splinters, glass, and fishhooks. At Vitality Urgent Care, a provider can remove most splinters and check your tetanus status. No appointment or referral is needed.

Do I need a tetanus shot for a splinter?

You may need a tetanus shot for a splinter if your last one was more than 5 years ago, especially for wood or metal splinters.

Last reviewed October 2026

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