You can try drawing salve. Should be able to find it at any drugstore. I used it once for a splinter and it came out in an hour or two.

Drawing Salve? How very wonderful. I've never heard of this before, but I'm gonna find me some. The day I don't have thorns to deal with is the day I'm too sick or too tired or it's raining too hard to go outside.

You might try coating your finger with Elmers glue and letting it dry. Then peel it off. Works great for tiny cactus needles.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ichthammal ointment

Wrap a piece of raw bacon on it for several hours.

Some great tips here, I will have to remember them. I once had a few rose thorn tips in my feet (no more barefoot gardening for me!) and my husband had to dig them out, I couldn't reach them. Of course my feet are a bit calloused, so it only hurt a little bit.

Thanks, y'all for all your suggestions.

I'm not sure what my next step is here. If I can find it, I may try the drawing salve.

The day I got this thorn, I did put a bit of damp baking soda on the spot and cover it with a bandaid for a couple of hours -- which was a tip for removing difficult splinters.

The skin over the bit of sticker has healed over, but I know the thorn is still there because I can feel when I press the spot, so the Elmers Glue wouldn't have anything to stick to but skin.

I guess this ought to teach me once and for all to wear gloves when working with roses. OTOH, it's hard to tie a climber to its arbor while wearing gloves.

I just use a hat pin and dig them out--probably not dr approved, but I've done this all my life and never had a problem. It's over and done with, and there is just minimal short term pain. It's probably best to sterilize the pin, but I never do. Diane