LizzyBee Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 What can we do short of going to the doctor? Her finger is red and a little warm, but no streaks up the arms or anything like that. Any suggestions? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fivetails Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I'd try some soaks in sea salt + warm water. That was always my go-to for irritated/infected piercings years back [don't have them anymore] and it usually worked quite well. * I'm no doc though, it's just a suggestion ~ if there's a possibility of serious infection/etc, you may need to have it looked at by someone who knows his badly infected fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Put a little bit of tea tree oil on it. Mine get infected all the time. No big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted January 8, 2010 Author Share Posted January 8, 2010 Thanks, ladies. By the time dd went to bed last night, her finger was pretty swollen. She's a little worried because the last time we went to Indiana to visit dh's relatives, we had to take his aunt to the hospital for 2 days of IV antibiotics because she got blood poisoning from an infected hangnail. Who would've thought a hangnail could cause so much trouble? We will try a saltwater soak today and I'll dh look for some tea tree oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I'd try some soaks in sea salt + warm water. That was always my go-to for irritated/infected piercings years back [don't have them anymore] and it usually worked quite well. * I'm no doc though, it's just a suggestion ~ if there's a possibility of serious infection/etc, you may need to have it looked at by someone who knows his badly infected fingers. Put a little bit of tea tree oil on it. Mine get infected all the time. No big deal. We've done the two steps above and it has worked well. Mariann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I try to trim the hangnail the best I can, then put neosporin (or store brand version) on it, covered with a bandaid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I've used antibiotic ointment on them, but they weren't swollen or hot. I hope she's feeling better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I had an infected hangnail on my big toe this summer (I learned never to pull at one no matter how tempting!). When it hurt so badly that I thought I might need to go to the urgent care, I called my doctor and his over-the-phone treatment plan worked. It was basically to soak my foot in hot water several times a day. Within a day or two, it was clear that this was going to work as the pain was much less severe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted January 8, 2010 Author Share Posted January 8, 2010 Thanks, everyone. She put neosporin on it last night, and she has soaked it in hot water today. It's less swollen and doesn't hurt as much. I can't convince her to put salt in the water, and since she's 16, I'm not going to force the issue. I would if it were getting worse instead of better, but since it's getting better, it's not worth the argument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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