What in the name is this on my finger? (horrible photo attached)

[littleteapot86]

Hello all, does anyone know what this could be on my finger? I have been feeling ill with a virus for about a week but this damn thing appeared on my finger yesterday and has got worse this morning. I called the GP but can't get an appointment til Tuesday. Do we think a pharmacy can help? It's really painful. Thank you for any advice.

Whitlow?

Splinter? Have you been gardening?

Another pic. I don't think the camera is picking up how raised it is.

When I was googling it did look like whitlow. I just have to suffer it don't I?

Soak it in salted water as hot as you can manage might help it to draw.
it does look very sore & take some painkillers

No I haven't been gardening. It looks very infected 😱

Is it painful like a cold sore or painful like a spot (i.e. do you think you can pop it)?

One of my DC has form for infected hanghails and I soak in hot saltwater for as long as I can get them to sit still, then put sudocrem on or savlon if I can't find the sudocrem, and put a plaster on it so it doesn't get wiped off immediately. Spritz with Savlon wound spray or similar in between covering it up.

I can't squeeze them because it hurts, but something like yours I'd love to have a squeeze after soaking it for a good while.

If I can't get it to go away on its own, I fill out the form on my GP's website and upload photos. I'd always rather show them a gross photo than go in. You almost certainly don't need a whole appointment - they can just glance at it and do a prescription for a topical or oral antibiotic.

Thank you this is really helpful! Yes I reckon it could be squeezed although Dr Google seems to think that's not a great idea 😅I'm going to see what the pharmacy says. I don't think my GP has a facility for sending a photo?! But I will ask.

Get some magnesium sulphate paste from a pharmacy (it was about a pound last time I bought some), cover your finger in it, wrap it in a plaster and leave it for a few hours. It should draw the pus out.

I used to suffer badly with boils, whitlows etc - this is an old fashioned but very effective treatment.

@littleteapot86 Give them a call back and ask if you can send them a photo instead of coming in - there is an NHS form they can send you to share photos and describe what's wrong with you and even suggest what you would like them to do about it, and if it's a biggish surgery (mine is big) there should be a duty doctor with the dull task of reading them all and responding. My surgery adores this option as it's much faster and easier for them than finding an appointment.

Thank you everyone. So helpful!! Xxx

Yes see chemist and get the magnesium sulphate paste a pp mentioned. Tempting as it may be to squeeze please resist as i squeezed an infected bit on side of my fingernail and ended up with infection spread into a soft pocket on pad of my finger complete agony and an operation required.

I agree with drawing it out using hot salt water soak and plaster with sudden to bring to the surface. If it is a wee splinter it should raise to the surface enough you can pin it out

Could it have been a bite? My friend was bitten by a spider and started as a speck, then like a blister then after that was just gross.

You’ve got a track coming off it. Prob gone cellulitis-y.

Call doc, ignore posters shrieking sepsis, but you might need abs.

UPDATE: so I went to the pharmacy and they were so lovely and helpful. They didn't actually say what it was but they've prescribed me antibiotic cream and if not better by tomo i've to go back and get an oral antibiotic. Here's hoping I start to feel more human soon. It was bad enough with the worst sore throat ever nevermind this blimmin thing on my finger! x