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Rare injury hairdressers often get that can be really painful�
From paper cuts to stubbed toes, there are all kinds of everyday injuries that are a real nuisance and can be very painful.
A doctor has gone viral on TikTok after explaining one you’ve probably never heard of, but it’s common amongst hairdressers.
Rare injury hairdressers often get
The injury is hair splinters! As the name suggests, they’re like normal splinters, but instead of tiny fragments of wood or metal, it’s hair. They are caused when tiny strands of hair get embedded under the surface of the skin, producing redness and pain.
Hair splinters look very similar to other splinters and usually involve freshly cut hair. That’s because newly cut hair is often very sharp, meaning it penetrates the skin more easily, a report in the National Library of Medicine explains.
“Did you know this is called a hair splinter and those are not his hair fragments,” Dr. Max said while showing a video of a hairdresser squeezing tiny pieces of dark hair from the skin in between his fingers. “He’s a barber and those are from his clients.”
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It’s quite rare for a normal person to get a hair splinter, but far more common for those surrounded by hair a lot, like hairdressers and dog groomers.
How to remove a hair splinter
The doctor said it’s really important to wash your hands properly and remove the tiny hair strand before it gets infected.
To remove a splinter, MedlinePlus says you should first wash your hands with soap and water. Then, use tweezers to grab the splinter, carefully pulling it out at the same angle it went in.
If it’s hard to grab, they recommend sterilizing a pin or needle by soaking it in rubbing alcohol or placing the tip in a flame.
Wash your hands with soap and use the pin to gently remove skin over the splinter. Then, use the tip to lift the end of the splinter out.
You may need to use tweezers to pull out the splinter after you lift it. When it’s out, wash the area with soap and water, pat the area dry and bandage the cut if it’s likely to get dirty.
When to seek medical help
Usually, hair splinters, or any kind of splinter, are not a serious medical issue and can be easily dealt with at home. However, you should see your health care provider if there is inflammation or pus, or if the splinter is deeply embedded.
Inflammation, pus, redness, pain, swelling, and itching all indicate that the splinter may be infected, which requires medical attention. Also, you should seek professional medical help if the splinter is in your eye or close to it.
Dr. Mahyar (Max) Maddahali, MD, is a medical practitioner who graduated from Marmara University in Istanbul, with a degree in medical science.
