Splinters.

About

A splinter, also known as a sliver, is a fragment of a larger object or a foreign body that becomes embedded in tissue. To be classified as a splinter, the foreign body must penetrate and remain lodged within the tissue. Splinters commonly cause initial pain due to damage of flesh and muscle and can lead to infection through contamination by bacteria on the foreign object. While splinters are traditionally made of wood, they may be composed of several other materials, including hair, glass, plastic, metal, and animal spines. Like any wound that breaks the skin, splinters pose a risk of infection, which if left untreated could develop into more serious complications. Medical advice should be sought if a splinter remains inside the body for more than two or three days, or if the affected area shows signs of inflammation or tenderness regardless of whether the splinter has been removed.