It is quite common to encounter a splinter in the skin. While superficially embedded splinters are easy to pick out, this may not be the case with large or deep splinters. Most splinters are made ...

Call a health professional if the splinter is very large or deeply embedded and can’t be pulled out easily, says Glaser. Deep splinters may require a doctor to make a small incision to extract it.

3. Pull it out Once you can see the edge of the splinter sticking out, use a tweezers to grab it as close to the skin as possible. Then, pull in the direction the splinter is sticking out.

Some splinters may not be easily or safely removed at home, Davis noted in a hospital news release. Seek medical attention if the splinter seems very deep or if it is lodged under a fingernail.

If you’ve ever had a splinter before, then you’ll know they can be painful and often quite difficult to remove, too. So, what happens if you don’t take out a splinter?