Occasionally, however, they can become dangerous. Even fatal. So should a splinter lodge itself under the skin, it's always a good idea to remove it as quickly as possible. Before we all lose our heads, though, it's worth noting that death by splinter is nearly never fatal in these modern times.

Does a splinter kill you?

Splinters aren't deadly in and of themselves. Neither really are blisters, scratches, or other seemingly superficial assaults on our skin. But these nicks allow for something much deadlier to make entry into our otherwise sealed-off selves: Harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus or Group A strep.

What happens if you don't remove a Skelf?

If the body can't get rid of a splinter, it may "wall it off" to form an internal lump known as a granuloma. The splinter can re-emerge at the surface, sometimes years later, or remain encased and "dormant", Dr Sheridan says.