FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

I had a splinter in my foot that broke off while trying to get it out. Eventually it became a callus and about a year later came to the surface so I was able to use a needle to finally get it out. It was always a tender spot until the splinter was totally removed. Good luck with your splinter removal. Guard against infection.

Our dear Kristi,
Aie is right!
Maybe try soaking in warm water and then gently squeeze to make it pop out(?)The one time I tried this(had a pyracantha horn in my toe) it worked like gangbusters.Just please be careful about infection,especially if you are doing stuff in the dirt.
Good luck!Feel better!
Love
Natalia. Xo

Dr. T. Berry Brazelton used to say, when children had splinters, soak in water and wrap with plastic and the moisture will draw it out. Or washing dishes by hand might work too.

I appreciate your "ordinary day" narrations, and the French translation of sayings or phrases that we didn't learn in our French classes (or in textbooks). Very useful! Thanks.

Soaking in very salty hot water usually works for me!! Et aussi c'est "ce pouce" , pas cet , probably a typo...
Wonder if we can find green clay here?
I love the expression rebelotte, a new one for me! And I REALLY love those black and white Fava bean flowers!
Bises, hope that epine is long gone!!

Way back when, my family practioner dad would take a fine sewing needle & gently pick away at the skin to "peel away" enough layer of skin to expose the sliver. It never hurt. It worked, & I have on many occasions done it on myself to get to a splinter- Would use a tweezer or sharp fingernails to grab the sliver. I am not as gentle as dad was, but it doesn't really hurt when you are superficial . Try it!!

Ah, the tiny ones are the worst! Clay was a good move, as it creates a drawing action. My favorite technique is to allow a drop of white glue to dry over the site (hopefully before you push it all the way in!), then peel it off in the opposite direction it entered.

Strong packing or duct tape works for me. If not, then I dig it out which causes less pain in the long run.

While in Florida for school a few years ago my son decided to climb a palm tree. On the way back down he ended up with splinters in his hands and feet. By the next morning he had an infection at the sites. He was able to remove most of the of the splinters, but had to go to the emergency room to have the others removed as well as get an antibiotic. Apparently palm tree splinters are poisonous. He won't ever climb one again.

Try a sea urchin spine in the bottom of Don's foot, threatening to ruin a vacation if not removed.
Olive oil, Vaseline, a Swiss Army knife (sterilized) and tweezers saved the day. Olive oil works wonders or anything slippery.
Often the splinter works its own magic by swelling up and ejecting itself.

Many years ago I took my friend's 3 young children to the beach near Nice. I was mortified when one managed to get the spines of a sea urchin embedded in his little foot. But my friend (who lived in St. Jeannet) said cheerfully when I handed them over and pointed out the spines, "Oh I just wait until they're infected and then they pop out". I was horrified but she proved right. However, I think everyone should always take care about infections and seek immediate help if there is increased pain and/or the person feels hot or poorly. Or you just feel worried.