Removal of cactus spines from the skin. A comparative evaluation of several methods

T. T. Martinez, M. Jerome, R. C. Barry, R. Jaeger and J. G. Xander
St Louis College of Pharmacy, Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, MO.

The removal of very fine cactus spines from the skin is particularly distressing for the pediatric patient. We describe two typical patients and a study in experimental animals comparing the effectiveness of several previously described methods for removal. The most effective method involved using tweezers to remove clumps of spines followed by a thin layer of glue covered with gauze, which was allowed to dry and then peeled off to remove individual spines. Attempts to use adhesive tape or a thin layer of a commercial facial mask to aid in removal of the spines produced more retention and inflammation three days after removal than no treatment.