What happens if you don't remove a splinter?

If you garden without gloves, or are partial to going barefoot in the backyard, chances are you've managed to collect a splinter.

Removing a splinter Source: (Flickr: RSL images (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))

For most of us, it's a non-event. With tweezers or even your fingernails, you can pull the splinter from the skin's surface and there is no cause for alarm.