Cactus spines cause immediate discomfort, and their removal requires different strategies depending on their size and form. The two main types are large, visible spines and much smaller, hair-like structures known as glochids. Glochids, often found on prickly pear and cholla, are particularly troublesome because they are tiny, easily detach, and are frequently barbed, making them resist removal.
Initial Steps and Assessment
Avoid instinctively rubbing or squeezing the affected area, as this can push spines deeper or cause them to break.
First, gently wash the area with soap and water to clean the skin surface and reduce the risk of infection.
After cleaning, assess the injury under good lighting, using a magnifying glass to determine the type of penetration. For any invasive removal, sterilize tools like tweezers and needles using rubbing alcohol or boiling water. Correct identification dictates the method of removal, moving from adhesive techniques for glochids to mechanical extraction for larger spines.
Removing Fine, Hair-like Glochids
Because glochids are numerous, shallowly embedded, and difficult to pull out individually, adhesive methods are the preferred approach for mass removal. Applying a strong adhesive material, such as duct tape or wide packing tape, can be highly effective.
Press the tape firmly onto the affected skin area and quickly pull it off in one swift motion, repeating this process with fresh pieces of tape until the majority of the glochids are removed.
Another successful method involves using a thin layer of white school glue or rubber cement. Allow the glue to dry completely, then peel it off; this creates a flexible cast that pulls the tiny, barbed spines out of the skin.
Removing Large, Embedded Spines
When dealing with thicker, more structural spines, the primary method involves mechanical extraction using sterile tools. The tweezers are used to grasp the spine as close to the skin’s surface as possible, ideally at the point where it enters the epidermis.
The spine must be pulled out gently and slowly in the same direction it entered the skin to minimize tissue damage and prevent breakage.
If a spine has broken off just below the surface, or if the tip is not exposed, a sterilized needle can be used to carefully pierce the skin overlying the spine’s tip. This action gently lifts the skin layer, exposing the embedded spine so the tweezers can grasp it for removal. Avoid excessive digging, as this can cause more trauma than the spine itself.
Aftercare and When to Seek Medical Help
Once all visible spines or glochids have been removed, the wound should be thoroughly cleaned again with soap and water to wash away any remaining debris or contaminants.
Following cleaning, a topical antiseptic or antibiotic ointment can be applied to the puncture site to help prevent bacterial infection. The area should then be covered with a bandage until the skin surface has healed.
Monitoring the wound for signs of infection is necessary for the next few days, watching for increased redness, swelling, prolonged pain, or the presence of pus discharge.
Medical attention should be sought immediately if a spine has entered the eye, or if you cannot remove a large spine completely and a fragment remains deeply embedded.
A doctor should also be consulted if signs of infection develop or if the area remains painful, inflamed, or develops a cyst or abscess, as a tetanus booster or further imaging may be necessary to locate a retained spine fragment.