Advice needed - do not read if you are squeamish

[Angelicinnocent]

Posting for traffic. DD 16 had acrylic nails done for her birthday but has managed to catch the one on her little finger.

This has lifted the real nail from the nail bed. It looks like it is completely off except for a tiny bit of skin holding it in the middle but it is so painful to touch that I can't really have a good look and the acrylic nail is still stuck on so I can't see the actual nail.

It was bleeding last night and I gave it a soak in warm salt water then put a dressing on with some antiseptic cream to keep it clean and stop the dressing sticking. This morning it is weeping that yellowish liquid like you get from a graze.

I don't think there is any point going to GP as they won't be able to see any more than me with the acrylic nail on and I can't take the nail off. I am considering taking her to a & e to see if they can maybe take the nail off with gas and air or a local.

I'm worried about it getting infected or getting caught again and we go on holiday in a couple of weeks.

So advice please, should I take her to a & e or is this a waste of their time? Should I just keep it dressed and wait and see? Thanks

Ouch! Do you have a walk in centre near you?

Unfortunately not.

I would get to GP and get referred as necessary. Its clearly got infected and may even need AB or AB cream to heal

I would absolutely go to the gp before A&E. They may well be able to see if it is infected. Maybe even ring the nail place for advice on ways to get the acrylic off?

Can you call your GP surgery and ask for a call back from a nurse for advice? I wouldn't go to a&e unless a medical professional advised it.

Have spoken to the nail salon and they only come off by soaking in nail varnish remover which I can't do because of the open skin.

If its leaking yellow fluid its already infected. Go to the GP.

She needs to treat the infection before the nail comes off.

GP will prescribe something.

Poor bugger, busted nails hurt like a bastard.

I lose toenails fairly regularly (exercise-induced). IME, weeping thin clear/pale yellow liquid is normal. I’d it starts to thicken/smell/the nail bed goes red, that’s when an infection is starting.

I try to keep the nail for as long as possible, using it as a protective cover, IYSWIM? I strap it to the tip of my toe with a plaster with the non-sticky bit over the nail, so it doesn’t pull off when I change the plaster.

I appreciate that keeping this system in place on a foot is easier than on an exposed hand though!

Why would you go to a&e with this? No wonder the a&e departments across the country are up shit creak! Accident and emergency not a minor nail issue. Come on OP. Even the nurse at the GP surgery could sort this out. Sorry to be harsh but I'm so sick of people misusing a&e whilst rightful a&e users are dying on trolleys in corridors.

Don't go to A&E! That's crazy.
cut off as much of the fake nail as you can, so it won't get caught on stuff.
put some TCP ointment on it, and stick it down with a plaster, like the PP said about their toes.
keep it clean and keep putting TCP on it.

Hence why I'm asking for advice MrTrebus. Yes it probably is a minor issue but I am feeling a little bit helpless about what to do for her. Ive been through all the normal bumps, bruises and illnesses over the years with my DC but never something like this.

She's in pain and it didn't seem to me to be something a GP could help with. It doesn't seem infected at the minute and the clear/yellow liquid is what I would associate with damaged skin iyswim.

Agree MrTrebus, woked in the ED back in the day when it was called "casualty" itsnotand accident technically or an emergency, I nurse practitioner at your surgery would be able to sort it.

Pretty tough to cut off excess acrylic nail though?

Could it be held firmly in place and filed down? I suspect that may be too painful and risk full detachment though.

As to A&E, I agree with PPs. Ridiculous idea.

I thought only the TV progamme was called Casualty. All my life it has been A & E.

Definitely GP surgery - it sounds incredibly painful. I really wouldn't go to A&E - you'll be there for aeons and it is something that a GP/nurse can deal with.

Straw/yellow coloured watery liquid is not a sign of infection but perfectly normal and actually part of the healing process. If it is a thick, opaque exudate (white/green/grey) then yes, this is a sign of infection.

Maybe put a plaster to hold the nail secure and cut off any surplus with a nail clippers - make sure they are sharp as cheap ones tend to be pretty blunt and useless!

Agree with pp, your practice nurse is probably your best bet to start with, and if they can offer a quick, sympathetic fix then your poor dd's had help without hours of sitting around in an overwhelmed A&E. If the nail/infection is beyond their care then they'll send you on anyway.

I think with a mostly detached nail, any pressure from any clipper is going to try to flip the nail, rather then cut through?

I suspect it will need to be pressed very firmly down. I’d rest it on a table top then use my other thumb to hold it in place, while someone else tests clipping potential.

A&E?!

Seriously? You have got to be fucking joking!

I've called the GP and requested the nurse rings me when she is free.

The A&E may have a minor injuries unit attached. If so, that would be entirely appropriate.

catwoozle, up to the 80s it was called "caualty", then A & E, now called the ED or emergency Dept, although people insist on saying A & E.

Cut off the surplus nail.
Salt water soaks twice a day and keep it dry in between - use 2 tsp salt per pint of boiled water until you see the practice nurse or GP.
See the practice nurse at your GP's office for treatment and antibiotics.

Ok. Local hospital still calls it A&E though, both officially and informally.