A splinter in your foot is no fun. It can cause pain, especially when you put weight on the foot with the splinter. Of more concern, however, is that the splinter could have introduced bacteria or fungi that could cause infection.
If it's near the surface of the skin or protruding from the skin, you can often remove the splinter on your own, safely. If it's deeply embedded in your foot, consider seeking help from a medical professional.
Keep in mind, splinters can be of higher risk if you have a medical condition such as:
The Mayo Clinic recommends taking these steps to remove any foreign object, including glass, from any part of your body:
You may need a magnifying glass to see the splinter. If you cannot see the shard of glass, consider a visit to your doctor to have them remove it.
Do not try to remove the splinter on your own if the splinter appears to be deeply embedded in your skin or the muscle of your foot. Trying to remove a deeply embedded piece of glass could cause more damage.
To prepare yourself for the trip to the doctor, follow these steps:
Other signs and symptoms that you may need help from your doctor include:
Hopefully, your doctor will be able to quickly remove the splinter. In some cases, you may need more in-depth treatment:
Small, pain-free splinters located near the skin surface can slowly work their way out with normal shedding of the skin.
Also, the body might reject the glass splinter as a foreign body by forming a small pus-filled pimple. When that pimple bursts, the splinter may float out with the pus.
A glass splinter in your foot may work its way out by itself. But you can take steps to get it out to alleviate pain and lower the risk of infection.
In some cases, such as a deep or infected splinter, you may need to see a doctor for removal and medication.