Ingrown hairs and splinters are different types of materials--one is your own hair curls back into your skin, while the other is wood, plastic or glass shards that embed themselves into your flesh--but they can both have the same effect on your health. Both are considered to be "foreign objects" and can cause infection with prolonged irritation to your skin. Removing ingrown hair and splinters require sterile conditions and tools.
Step 1
Wash your hands and the site of the ingrown hair or splinter with antibacterial soap to reduce the chance of infection during the removal process.
Step 2
Clean a sewing needle with a cotton ball saturated in rubbing alcohol. The fine tip of a needle can help you remove an ingrown hair or splinter that is stuck under the surface of your skin.
Step 3
Break the skin at the site of the ingrown hair or splinter. Gently dip the needle underneath the foreign object and lift up so that the hair, wood or glass sliver comes up the surface of the skin.
Step 4
Sterilize a pair of cosmetic tweezers with rubbing alcohol. Grasp the end of the splinter or hair and firmly pull it out of your flesh. You might find a straight-edges tweezer easier to grab on to ingrown hairs than those with a pointed edge.
Step 5
Wash the wound site with soap and water. Rub a small amount of antibiotic ointment into the affected area. MayoClinic.com explains that if possible, keep the area open to the air to promote healing. If your splinter was located on your hand, foot or other area of your body that is regularly exposed to dirt, cover with a bandage to prevent infection.
Things You'll Need
- Antibacterial soap
- Rubbing alcohol
- Tweezers
- Needle
- Cotton ball
- Antibiotic ointment
- Bandage
Member Comments