What should be avoided during first aid if a locust thorn is not easily grasped or is completely under the skin?
Aggressively probing or digging at the site with unsterilized instruments
If the Black Locust thorn is not superficially embedded and easily accessible for removal with sterilized tweezers, attempting to dig or probe for it using home instruments should be abandoned immediately. Aggressive probing causes unnecessary trauma to the surrounding tissues, creating more avenues for microbial entry and significantly increasing the risk of bacterial introduction into deeper layers. The primary goal shifts to minimizing further contamination and damage. If the thorn is completely beneath the skin, the appropriate action is to clean the site thoroughly and seek professional help, where imaging can guide safe removal, preventing the situation from worsening due to careless manipulation.
