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cactus needles
For those of us who live in the Southwest or for any horticulture or outdoors enthusiast, exposure to cacti and cactus needles is not uncommon. Cactus, as we all know have an effective defense system in their thorns or spines, and great caution needs to be exercised when handling these fascinating plants. Of course there is always the risk of accidentally getting some cactus needles embedded in your skin when handling them, or when you by chance step upon them outdoors. If your garden does have cacti or if you live in an area where you are likely to come in contact with cacti then it would be wise to have some knowledge of cactus needles first aid.
There are varieties of cactus plants, and likewise a wide variety of cactus needles of different shapes and sizes. Removal methods would therefore also vary accordingly. Splinters and thorns from other plants and from wood are not uncommon and can easily be dealt with using tweezers, but removing cactus needles may not always be so simple and straightforward. The larger varieties of cactus needles that are clearly visible over the surface of the skin pose no problem and can easily be removed with the help of tweezers and at times maybe simply pulled out with your fingers. This needs to be done precisely and carefully however as it is possible for the needle to snap and part of it to remain embedded. At times this may even happen when you are cautious so always make it a point to examine the end of the cactus needle after extraction to ensure that it is intact. If a part of it remains embedded in your skin you would need to use the same methods used to extract small cactus needles. After removal, whether successful or not, make sure you cleanse the area with an antiseptic solution.
Medium sized cactus needles could also be removed with tweezers, but would take greater accuracy and care. Try and soak the affected area in warm water for around ten minutes before attempting extraction, so as to loosen up the skin. Alternatively you can apply some duct tape to the area very gently and then pull it away to pry out the cactus needles. Removal of small cactus needles is a little more tedious and complicated. The glue method that is most recommended is actually not advisable as it can cause skin and tissue damage. Instead soak a paper towel or tissues in baby oil and rub it gently across the area of skin that is affected to get rid of most of the cactus skins. Dry hair gel can also be applied over the area and then pull it away once dried.
These methods may not always be effective but it would be best to try them out and then cleanse yourself thoroughly to avoid spreading them to any other parts of your body. If the problem persists visit a doctor.
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