Try a Tape Trick

• If part of the splinter-however small-is protruding from the skin, try using some tape before you go to work with tweezers and needle. Put adhesive tape over the splinter and press down gently so the adhesive catches it. As you lift the tape again, the splinter might come away with it. This is particularly effective if you have a number of tiny splinters that aren't very deeply embedded.

A Swell Idea

• If the splinter is a sliver of wood, it might pop out on its own if you can get it to swell up. For 10 or 15 minutes, soak the area of skin where the splinter is buried in a cup of warm water to which you've added 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Do this twice a day. A tiny splinter might swell up so much that it comes right out. If it's larger, perhaps more of it is protruding, and you can grab it with tweezers.

Tweezer Tips

• If it looks as if the splinter isn't going to come out on its own, use tweezers. Sterilize them first by holding the end of the tweezers over a flame. Gently pull out the part of the splinter that's poking through the skin. Use a magnifying glass if you need to.
• If the splinter is buried under the skin, use a needle too. Sterilize the needle over flame, then use the tip to gently lift the bit of skin that covers the end of splinter. Holding up the skin with the needle tip, use tweezers to pull out the splinter.
• Check to see whether you got the entire splinter. If you did, wash the area with soap and water, blot dry, and cover it with a bandage. If some of the splinter remains embedded in the skin, you'll need to repeat the process.

Recipe for Relief...