Will a Foreign Body Work Its Way Out? What You Need to Know

September 22, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, many superficial foreign bodies can eventually be expelled by the body's natural processes. The question, will a foreign body work its way out, depends heavily on its size, type, and location, and sometimes, letting it be is a valid and safe option, while other times, it can be extremely dangerous.

Quick Summary

It's true that small, superficial foreign bodies can sometimes be expelled by the body on their own through processes like skin shedding or forming a pustule. However, the safety of waiting depends on several critical factors, including the object's material, depth, and location. Some foreign bodies pose a significant risk of infection or internal damage, making immediate medical attention necessary.

Key Points

Natural Expulsion is Possible: Small, superficial foreign bodies can be pushed out by the body through natural processes like skin shedding or abscess formation.
Wait and See Isn't Always Safe: The safety of waiting depends on the object's size, material, location, and the presence of symptoms like pain or infection.
High-Risk Objects Require Immediate Help: Button batteries, magnets, sharp items, and deeply embedded objects warrant immediate medical attention to prevent serious complications.
Self-Removal is for Minor Cases Only: Removing a foreign body at home is only appropriate for small, clean, superficial splinters, following proper sterilization techniques.
Swallowed Objects Have Specific Risks: While most ingested objects pass harmlessly, items like button batteries or sharp objects can be life-threatening and are considered medical emergencies.
Infection is a Major Concern: Signs of infection like fever, redness, or pus indicate the need for a healthcare provider, especially for wounds from dirty objects.
When in Doubt, Seek Medical Advice: If a foreign body is deep, difficult to see, or causes pain, consulting a doctor is the safest approach to avoid additional injury.

The Body's Natural Expulsion Mechanisms

When a foreign body, such as a small splinter or a cactus spine, enters the skin, the body's immune system recognizes it as an invader. The body has several ways of attempting to remove it.

Skin Shedding and Cell Turnover

The epidermis, or the outer layer of the skin, is constantly renewing itself. New skin cells grow from the bottom layer and push older cells toward the surface, a process known as cell turnover. If a small, shallow foreign body is lodged in this layer, the natural progression of skin cells can carry it to the surface, where it can eventually fall out. This is often the case with tiny, harmless splinters that don't penetrate deeply.

Inflammatory Response and Granuloma Formation

For deeper or larger foreign objects, the immune system initiates an inflammatory response. White blood cells are dispatched to the area to fight potential infection. This can lead to swelling, redness, and the formation of a pus-filled abscess, which may then burst, allowing the foreign body to escape with the pus. If the body cannot expel the object, it may "wall it off" with fibrous tissue, forming a hard lump called a granuloma. While this can neutralize the immediate threat, the encapsulated object can remain dormant for years or, in some cases, cause problems later on.

The Digestive Tract's Passage

For foreign bodies that have been swallowed, the outcome largely depends on the object's size and shape. Most small, smooth objects, such as coins, will pass through the digestive tract and be expelled naturally with no complications. However, larger, sharp, or toxic objects pose a significant risk and require immediate medical attention.

When to Let a Foreign Body Work Its Way Out

For minor injuries, especially with small, clean objects near the skin's surface, waiting can be a safe option, provided there are no concerning symptoms. Here are some instances where minor foreign bodies may be left to their own devices:

Small, superficial splinters: Tiny, painless slivers of wood or other material that are close to the surface and not causing irritation.
Inert materials: Glass is generally inert, and small, clean fragments can sometimes be left in place if they are not causing pain, as removal might cause more damage than leaving them.
Small, blunt ingested objects: A swallowed coin or other smooth, non-toxic item, as long as it is passing without causing symptoms like pain or vomiting.

The Dangers of Waiting and When to Seek Medical Help

Waiting for a foreign body to work its way out is not always the best, or safest, course of action. The risks can be significant, ranging from localized infection to life-threatening complications.

Signs that you need medical attention:

The foreign body is deeply embedded in the skin or muscle.
It is located near a joint, nerve, or blood vessel.
The wound or foreign body is dirty, or if the patient's tetanus vaccination is not up to date.
You cannot see the object, as is common with glass.
The object is sharp or toxic, such as a razor blade or battery.
There are signs of infection, including fever, redness, swelling, or pus.
A foreign body has been swallowed and causes abdominal pain, vomiting, or other symptoms.

Comparison: When to DIY vs. Call a Professional


Factor	Self-Removal/Waiting	Seeking Medical Attention
Depth	Superficial, close to skin's surface	Deeply embedded in soft tissue or muscle
Size	Very small, like a tiny sliver	Large objects, or fragments
Material	Clean, non-toxic materials (e.g., small, clean wood sliver)	Organic matter (wood, thorns), sharp objects, toxic items (batteries), or dirty material
Location	In a non-sensitive area (e.g., finger pad)	Near eye, joint, nerve, or major blood vessel
Symptoms	No pain, redness, or swelling	Increasing pain, swelling, redness, fever, or pus
Type of Injury	Minor, clean penetration	Animal/human bites, or wounds from dirty objects
Ingested Object	Small, blunt, smooth object passing without issues	Swallowed magnets, batteries, sharp objects, or objects causing symptoms

How to Manage Minor, Superficial Foreign Bodies

If you have a small foreign body that you've determined is safe to handle at home, follow these steps:

Wash your hands and the area thoroughly with soap and water.
Use sterilized tweezers to gently grasp the end of the object and pull it out at the same angle it entered the skin.
For deeper but still superficial splinters, sterilize a needle with rubbing alcohol. Use the needle to gently break the skin over the object to expose the tip, then use the tweezers.
Clean the area again and apply an antibiotic ointment and a bandage if necessary.

Swallowed Foreign Bodies and Internal Risks

When an object is swallowed, its journey through the body is not without risks. While many pass harmlessly, certain items are particularly dangerous.

Button batteries: These can cause severe internal burns, tissue damage, and even death if they become lodged.
Magnets: Swallowed magnets can attract each other across loops of the intestine, causing perforation or fistula formation.
Sharp objects: Items like toothpicks or chicken bones can perforate the digestive tract.
Airway obstructions: Objects that get stuck in the windpipe can be life-threatening and require immediate emergency care.

For more in-depth information on swallowing a foreign object, please consult the medical guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics via their publication, Pediatrics In Review.

Conclusion

While the human body possesses remarkable abilities to heal and protect itself, it's a mistake to assume every foreign body will resolve on its own. The decision to wait, remove it at home, or seek professional medical help should be based on a careful assessment of the object's characteristics, location, and the presence of symptoms. Always err on the side of caution. For any doubt, especially involving deep wounds, toxic items, or objects causing pain, consulting a healthcare provider is the safest and most prudent course of action to prevent further harm and serious complications.

Frequently Asked Questions

For very small, superficial objects like fine cactus spines, it can happen within days as the skin sheds. For larger, but still shallow, objects where an abscess forms, it might take a week or more. If the body encapsulates it, it may never come out, or emerge years later.

You should see a doctor if the object is deep, located near an eye, joint, or major artery, is made of a toxic or dirty material, or if you notice any signs of infection, such as fever, pus, or increasing redness and swelling.

Yes, most small, non-toxic, blunt objects that are swallowed pass through the digestive system without a problem. However, sharp objects, large items, and especially button batteries or magnets are extremely dangerous and require emergency medical care.

If a small, shallow splinter is left in the skin, it may be expelled by the body over time. If it's deeper, the body may wall it off, forming a lump called a granuloma. However, leaving it in can also lead to infection, which can become serious.

Small, deeply embedded glass fragments that are not causing pain may sometimes be left in place if they are clean. Glass is generally inert, but it is a judgment call for a medical professional. Never assume it's safe without a proper evaluation, especially if the piece is large or causing symptoms.

Attempting to remove a foreign body improperly can push it deeper, cause more tissue damage, or introduce infection. For deeply embedded or sensitive-area injuries, home removal is not recommended. Always use sterilized tools for minor, superficial cases.

Yes, a foreign body can cause a fever if it causes a significant infection. If you develop a fever after an injury involving a foreign body, it is a strong signal that you need to seek immediate medical attention.