Splinter removal can be one painful act. That needle-like object piercing through the skin seems like it would be just as painful as removing them. Splinters come in various shapes and sizes. But usually the smaller ones hurt the most. Why? Because they are difficult to remove. Some people use glue or tape, while even others use potatoes (believe it or not) for splinter removal. Here are some simple steps on how to remove a splinter properly to avoid further pain or possible infection.   1) Do not attempt to squeeze the splinter out. If you do, sharp splinters might push themselves further in if aggravated. Even worse, it may even break into smaller pieces. By understanding how to remove a splinter properly, you will see that you will not need to be doing any squeezing. 2) Wash and dry the spot with soap and water. But be gentle. This is to prevent infection. Make sure you pat the wound down to soak up excess water with a paper towel. 3) Sterilize the implement(s) you will use with an antiseptic solution or even a hot flame to prevent infection. 4) Inspect with a magnifying glass. By seeing the splinter up close, you can see the best way to approach your splinter removal. Depending on how the splinter is angled, this will dictate the best way to take it out. 5) Splinter Removal. There are several ways to accomplish splinter removal. The best ways are to use the tweezers method, needle method, or nail clipper/razor blade method.   3 Ways to Remove Splinters   How to Remove a Splinter with the Tweezers Method This is probably the splinter removal method you are most familiar with and is best used when the splinter is protruding from the skin. If it is sticking out horizontally use the needle method or the nail clipper method. You may want to numb the area with ice if it is a sensitive area after cleaning it. Sterilize the tip of the tweezers with rubbing alcohol or a hot flame and hold the magnifying glass to see where the splinter is sticking out of the skin. Using the tweezers, grab the splinter at the head making sure not to grab any hair or skin. Again, don't attempt to squeeze the splinter while pulling it out. When you do this you actually encourage the skin to grip the embedded end. This may lead to splinter breakage. Pull the splinter out in the direction it went into the skin.   How to Remove a Splinter with the Needle Method Splinter removal using a needle is the best method when there is a thin layer of skin over the splinter. If the splinter is set deep in the skin, this is not a good method to use. First you will need to sterilize the needle. Then, using the magnifying glass, see where the splinter entered the skin. Stick the needle in at the opening and gently apply upward pressure opening the skin above the splinter. By pulling the skin apart this should expose the splinter allowing you to now use the tweezers method to remove the splinter. You may need to use the needle to nudge the splinter out and loosen the skin around the splinter if it's stubborn.   How to Remove a Splinter with a Nail Clipper/Razor Method This method is best used when a splinter is buried under thick skin that is not very sensitive. The heel of the foot would be a prime example. To use this splinter removal method, sterilize the edges of the clipper or razor with rubbing alcohol. Clip or cut the skin parallel to the splinter. It should not hurt. Gently pull the skin apart to see the splinter. Then, use the tweezers method. Once the splinter is removed, be sure to disinfect the area with hydrogen peroxide, saline peroxide, alcohol pad or some other antiseptic solution. Also an antibiotic ointment may help to prevent infection. Natural antiseptics include raw organic honey or tea tree oil. Removing a splinter can seem like a squeamish task, but if done correctly, it can be painless. Now that you know how to remove a splinter, you can be sure that your splinter removal experience will be done in a cinch.   Product, Health and Wellness, Tweezers

If you are diabetic or know someone who is diabetic, it's important to know that nail care is critical to preventing further problems associated with the disease. Diabetics lack proper circulation and blood flow to the peripheral areas of the body and, therefore, lack sensation in the toes and fingers. This also makes them prone to poor wound healing as well. When you cut your nails (fingernails or toenails), you can expect that a nail clipper has the potential to cut you. As a diabetic, it's imperative that you make sure the care you give your nails are on radar. Your nails protect your body from infection and their condition is an indication of potential health problems including fungal growth. That's why it's important to conduct a routine investigation of the feet and hands on a regular basis to point out any cuts, changes in color, blisters or points of skin irritation. Keeping toenails and fingernails trimmed and clean is very important. One of the major protocols for diabetic foot care is to be sure to cut nails according to the shape of the toe or finger but be sure to not cut into the corners as that creates the potential for hangnails. It should be emphasized that skin should never be cut at the end of the toes. If toenails become thick you will need a more durable toenail clipper, use a nail nipper or have them trimmed by your doctor.   Here are some tips for foot care for diabetics: Check your feet everyday Have your feet checked at least once a year If you have a foot injury seek attention immediately Seek care if you have any cuts, wounds or ingrown nails Protect your feet by wearing comfortable shoes If you have corns or calluses, do not cut them off Wear customized footwear Look for ingrown nails, color changes, swelling, changes in temperature, change in sensation, cracks, sores, and ulcers. If you see any of these, please get checked out. Diabetics have special needs when it comes to caring for their feet. With special care diabetics can effectively prevent complications of poor wound healing by not creating a wound in the first place.   Health and Wellness

Ingrown toenails suck. They're painful. They are not easy to fix quickly. And did I mention they're painful? But once you get one, you know you have to do something about it. Most ingrown nails occur with toenails and usually it's with the big toe. So if the ingrown toenail is bad enough, it will hurt when you walk or put any significant pressure on the toe. So what is an ingrown toenail? If you're never experienced this kind of pain, you've probably never had one. Basically, an ingrown toenail occurs when the corners of the nail curve and grow into the skin. If left untreated, it could cause infection and most definitely pain. Imagine a hard nail driving into your skin all day long and every time you put pressure on the nail it drives it into the skin even more. Ouch! So what causes ingrown toenails in the first place? What Causes Ingrown Toenails? There are several reasons. One reason is of course genetics. Your genes told your toenail to be too big. Or maybe your genes make your toenails unusually curved...thanks mom and dad! Then, there's trauma. Toe stubbing can create injury to the nail and cause it to grow back differently. Or it's possible to hurt your toenail so bad that it got black and blue and eventually fell off. When the new toenail grows back it can grow back differently from before. But the most common cause is wearing shoes that are too tight or cutting the toenails incorrectly. What causes ingrown toenails can be a variety of factors where some are not in your control.   How to Fix Ingrown Toenails There are several home remedies for ingrown toenails. But if none of these work, it may be time to get in touch with a specialist like a podiatrist to remove it for you. Fixing an ingrown toenail will require some patience as well as active management on your part. Here are some things you can try. Soak the Nail First off, try soaking the ingrown nail in warm water for 15-20 minutes at least 3-4 times a day. This will reduce the swelling and pain. You can also try adding Epsom salt, tea tree oil or vinegar. Epsom salt can help reduce discomfort and loosen the skin away from the nail. Tea tree has disinfecting properties while vinegar has anti-fungal properties.   Use a Buffer Then try using a small piece of cotton or some dental floss and place it under the corner of the nail in order to lift the nail away from the skin and help it grow above the skin rather than into the skin. You can use a tweezer to help you if you find it difficult to achieve.   Apply Antibiotic Ointment Since the redness and swelling could lead to an infection, be sure to use an antibiotic ointment or cream on the area to kill the germs. Keep the toe bandaged. If it is already infected, you will need to get antibiotics from your doctor. One way to tell if it's infected is if you see pus. Yuck. Don't let your ingrown nail get this far! Wear Proper Shoes Proper shoes are one of the main culprits of ingrown toenails so this one is very important. Wearing open-toed shoes that do not restrict the toes are preferable. This means avoiding high heels or pointed toed shoes. Also, wear the correct shoe size. Any shoes that crowd your toes will put extra pressure on the skin against the nail. Give your toes some breathing space!   Use Pain Relievers as Needed Since ingrown nails can be painful while you are trying to fix it, be sure to take some pain relievers if necessary. Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or naproxen sodium (Alleve) are all good choices for temporary relief. Remember, pain relievers don't actually get rid of the problem but they will help you get through it as you treat the nail.   Cut Nails Straight Across Improper nail cutting is also a culprit. Instead of cutting the nails at the corners, cut nails straight across. When nails are cut at the corners, it encourages them to grow into the skin. This is exactly what you do NOT want. When you cut the nails straight across you are training them to grow straight and not curve inward. Use a nail clipper with a straight edge or if you have thick nails, use a nail nipper that helps to cut the nail straight across. It is also possible that you are cutting your nails too short. When they are cut too short, the pressure from shoes could cause the nail to grow into the skin. So let the nail grow out to the edge of the toe. For thick toenails, try the Seki Edge Ingrown Toenail Nipper to make small cuts across the top edge of the nail. Where most nail nipper jaws curve inward, these jaws curve outward so you'll never end up cutting into the nail corners. Be sure to disinfect the nail tools with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide before using so you don't inadvertently cause an infection.   Do Appropriate Exercises Avoid any kind of high impact exercise that could aggravate the nail. Running and jumping will only make you feel it more. If you are feeling pain already, you probably don't want to do this anyway, but it is always worth mentioning.   Eat a Healthy Diet Lastly, eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. You need proper nutrition for your body to fight off any infection and encourage healing. Also, avoid smoking. With these suggestions on how to fix ingrown toenails, at least one or more should be helpful. It will take some time to relieve the issue, but with careful attention and management you should be able to at least get some relief. Home remedies for ingrown toenails are always the first step, but if none of these help, it's time to see a professional.   Health and Wellness

One usually doesn't think about nail clippers too often, but they sure come to mind when your nail tears or if your nails are getting too long and need a trim. Having a good quality nail clipper can surprisingly give a certain satisfaction you wouldn't expect. It's easy to pass off a nail clipper as just a tool you need to trim your nails, but have you ever used a nail clipper that delivered a subpar experience? For example, have you ever tried to use a nail clipper that required a lot of pressure to cut through the nail or that left jagged nails? It's not an uncommon occurrence. For many people these are their biggest gripes. And who wants to deal with frustrating and unpleasant experiences. Even the smallest of tasks (such as clipping your nails) shouldn't give you a headache or another thing to be annoyed with. Nail clipping is something one does pretty frequently so it's important that whatever nail clipper you're using will stand the test of time. The good news is there are some high-quality fingernail and toenail clippers that can deliver sharp, clean cuts with minimal pressure. While having an awesome nail cutting experience is not on the top of everyone's list, it is a small task that can be made much more pleasant with superior tools. Introducing Seki Edge nail clippers! These are high quality Japanese nail clippers forged with Japanese stainless steel, manufactured and hand-finished by craftsman. What's really cool is that the makers of Seki Edge, Green Bell, are descendants of samurai sword makers who merge traditional samurai sword making techniques with modern ones. As you can imagine, these nail clippers have sharp blades. Imagine a samurai sword cutting your nails?! That's pretty insane. Made in Japan, they are quality tested and go through many steps to achieve this perfection. With tools that are sharp like samurai swords, you're sure to get an awesome experience. When cutting your nails, it's important to use the proper nail cutter for the type of nail you are cutting. Fingernail clippers are small overall. Since fingernails are generally smaller than toenails, they are made to more easily cut around the fingernails with ease and control. In fact, if your toenails are small too, you can use fingernail clippers to cut your toenails.   THE DIFFERENT SEKI EDGE NAIL TOOLS Fingernail Clippers Fingernail clippers can be useful for cutting children's nails (both fingernails and toes) as well as softer, brittle nails. For less pressure and for smaller nails, use a fingernail clipper. Seki Edge carries a variety of fingernail clippers. Some have special features such as a built-in nail file or a nail catcher to catch nail clippings.  The Seki Edge Stainless Steel Fingernail Clipper SS-106 is the most popular fingernail clipper in the line. It's sleek, sophisticated and works like a charm. If you like a fingernail clipper with all the features, the Deluxe Fingernail Clipper SS-101 has all the bells and whistles you need. It has a built-in nail catcher and nail file. So this all-in-one Japanese nail cutter is economical and provides a lot of value.   Nail Scissors You can also use a nail scissor, but these are less common. Nail scissors are used if you want more control or if you are trying to shape your nails a certain way.   Toenail Clippers When it comes to cutting toenails, a heavy duty toenail clipper is best. Since toenails are often much thicker and wider than fingernails, a stronger and larger nail clipper may be needed. Toenail clippers feature larger, wider jaws and are overall larger than fingernail clippers. The Seki Edge Stainless Steel Toenail Clipper SS-107 is the most popular Seki Edge toenail clipper and can generally do the job. Another nail clipper that is on the rise is the Seki Edge Stainless Steel Nail Clipper SS-112. It's gained massive popularity due to its fantastic cutting ability. It also has a built-in nail file on the top of the lever. It's heavy and delivers a smooth clean cut.   Nail Nippers A thick nail can be addressed by either a heavy duty nail clipper or a nail nipper. Nail nippers have very strong curved blades, sharp cutting edges and are especially useful for very thick nails. While toenail clippers for thick nails are available, sometimes they are just not strong enough to cut through the thickest of nails. With a nail nipper you can steer your cuts for more cutting control and they have very powerful jaws that cut the nail from the side as opposed to the top and bottom. This makes cutting a very thick nail much easier. For special circumstances such as an ingrown toenail, use a nail clipper with a straight edge or an ingrown nail nipper. Ingrown nails should be cut straight across to prevent the nail from growing into the corners of the skin. If the ingrown nail is also very thick, try the Seki Edge Ingrown Nail Nipper. It's a unique nail nipper where the jaws curve outward so that you don't cut into the nail. Instead, it cuts away from the nail helping you cut straight across.   CONCLUSION Each Seki Edge nail clipper gives a precise cut. They have a sharp curved blade on the top and bottom that come perfectly together to create clean cuts. If you're looking to have nicely trimmed toenails or fingernails, these nail clippers are the best place to start. You won't go wrong with a Japanese nail clipper by Seki Edge. In fact, it will be the only one you'll need. While the Seki Edge line carry several different nail clippers, it is a full personal care line with other tools such as nail nippers, cuticle nippers, grooming kits, eyelash curlers, tweezers and more. To complement the nail clippers, perhaps pair them with a nail file or cuticle nippers. Even if you get your nails done by your favorite nail tech, you can still do some maintenance at home such as trimming hangnails or filing down chipped nails. And if you're a DIYer then these are the best manicure investments you can make. If you want a set that includes a variety of manicure tools, a nail grooming kit can be a good choice. From two to nine pieces, Seki Edge grooming kits have a selection of tools important for any manicure. Most of them include a Seki Edge nail clipper. There have been many satisfied customers who swear by Seki Edge nail clippers. They are ranked very high on other popular websites and review sites. And if you're still not sure if these nail clippers are for you, there are extensive reviews on YouTube about them! That's right...the social proof on these clippers is plentiful. You have found the best fingernail and toenail clippers on the market here. Give your nails the pampering and TLC they deserve and feel the edge with Seki Edge.   Product, Nail Clippers