Is my finger infected?

[sausagedaug]

I caught the side of my thumb nail yesterday and it's been sore and throbbing ever since 😩

Does it look infected or will ot settle down? I keep catching it on things.

The last time i did something similar on a finger i ended up on antibiotics- really don't want to be on any as I've only just finished a course of antibiotics for H.Pylori

Pic isn't very clear but it does look infected. In my own experience this sort of thing has always settled down on its own regardless. But if you have a history of needing antibiotics, you probably ought to keep an eye on it and if it doesn't resolve on its own, get medical advice.

Again can’t tell from the photo as it’s not in focus, but if it’s still throbbing sore tomorrow I’d phone 111/GP for advice. I understand you don’t want to be on more abx but it’s just necessary sometimes unfortunately!

Hopefully a clearer pic, it's still sore this morning so I'll pop into a pharmacy if I can and ask their advice!

I don't see redness or puss so my vote would be it's just the actual injury hurting.

It doesn't look infected.

I would take some paracetamol and apply some ice and see if it settles down.

It looks absolutely normal to me.

I'm broke the nail and pulled the skin under the left corner. I'm hoping it's just normal pain from what I've done.

I really don't want to have to take more antibiotics as the ones I took for H pylori completely upset my stomach and it's only starting to settle down now.

I’d go to a pharmacy first, they’re often very good at sorting small injuries.

That doesn’t look infected to me either

I had a bad experience a couple of years ago with exactly this and an infection taking hold really badly. My strong advice (as from the nurse I saw to treat it far too late!) is to get it in a hot salt bath as often as possible to stop it getting worse.

Can’t see anything to suggest it’s infected.

The throbbing is probably the injury rather than an infection.

You only did it yesterday so I’d suggest it’s too soon for an infection to have developed. Put a dab of savlon or germaline or tea tree oil on it and a plaster.

This was my finger when infected, yours looks fine

Banging your thumb isn’t likely to cause an infection unless you get something in an open wound - which you don’t have. It’s just sore.

Make sure you're not pregnant before following this advice. It is bigly important.

Thanks everyone! I'll get a pharmacist to look at it just in case.
@gemini0606that looks nasty!

I was advised by a pharmacist to try soaking a finger like that in warm salt water. Use boiled water with salt that's been allowed to cool.

@sausagedaug it was hideous and felt like it had its own pulse! I got given fucidin cream and also a poultice to drawn the poison out, worked a treat

Put liquid tcp on it.

I'm only working half a day today so I'll go to the chemist and get tcp and soak it and see if that helps. Down the side of my nail feels like a paper cut but the skin is a little swollen and keeps throbbing when I catch it on something.

I’m not sure why you need to see a pharmacist for this? Just stick some savlon on it.

Please don’t scaremonger, paracetamol is safe to take during pregnancy
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-confirms-taking-paracetamol-during-pregnancy-remains-safe-and-there-is-no-evidence-it-causes-autism-in-children

Pretty sure they were being sarcastic 🫣

Jeez, lighten up. It was obviously a JOKE. Bigly. Get it?