To get antibiotics for this?

[OverTheRainbow88]

I got a tiny cut on my foot about 4 weeks ago, which hasn’t healed: so I amazoned Some liquid skin which I applied a week ago. Since this morning there’s a red line moving up away from my toe. Should I try and get antibiotics incase?
Thanks

How does it look? Is it swollen, weeping? How deep was it? Has it scabbed? Lots of reasons for a cut not healing, the red line is weird, its usually a sign of an advanced infection but you'd have other signs of infection first. I didn't get a red line on my infected cut until we were on the way to surgery to have it sorted out and it looked very not right.

Have you tried an antiseptic cream?

Go to the pharmacy and ask a pharmacist to look at it. They'll refer you to the GP for antibiotics if necessary (as I found out when I tried to get antiseptic cream for something that turned out to be full blown cellulitis )

Go to the gp or call 111 or at least ask a pharmacist before buying anything else. A red line from a cut can be a worrying sign of cellulitis. It may of course be absolutely fine and I am hopefully over dramatic.

I’d get a medical opinion, someone I know had to have a limb amputated after a small cut.

If you can find a doctor willing to give you antibiotics for this problem then go ahead.

Assuming your GP is now closed, call 111 for this.

I second asking the opinion of a Pharmacist

Even if you just took a photo of it and showed them over the counter.

I agree about seeing a pharmacist. They will tell you if it needs attention from a doctor, or advise you any self care if it doesn't need attention.

If you have any medical condition that can cause problems with healing, such as diabetes, I would get it seen too sooner rather than later

You need to be seen as soon as possible,if it is tracking up a vein it is a sign of a serious infection,resulting in Sepsis.

Don’t leave it.Call 111.

Please ignore what @Daphnise said!

I just managed to speak to a duty GP who I sent a pic to, they’ve prescribed antibiotics, just calling around now to find a pharmacy that’s open! Nowhere is answering!

Use Google to find a pharmacy that’s open near you.

Either go to a pharmacy tomorrow or call 111. It's definitely worth getting medical advice on this.

Supermarket pharmacies are often open later. The one on my local Asda is open till 8pm for example

Thank you. I’ve found one open and just waiting outside as it says 2 at a time and there’s 4 people in there! I hope they have it as the one by my house answered and didn’t have it until tomo afternoon!

Thanks everyone

With possible infections, I'd see a doctor rather than go via a pharmacist. The sooner you catch an infection, the better your chances of healing quickly. Sometimes, more than one round of antibiotics are needed. I left an infection just a couple of days too long and nearly ended up needed hospital treatment as a result.

Thanks all, I’ve been told to draw around the red line and take antibiotics for 24 hours and if it’s spread to call my Gp again.

Learnt something new which may be helpful. If your GP sends your prescription straight to a pharmacist and they don’t have what you need they can write down a code for you which you can take to any other pharmacies and they can access your prescription.

Glad to hear you have managed to get a prescription and advice. Hope it starts getting better soon.

Thanks 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾

I'm so so angry at the PP who was so sarcastic and so so wrong... A red line is a clear indication of a spreading infection... I've nursed very poorly children who's parents didn't realise this... Probably listened to a 'friend' like the PP... So glad you've got the right treatment...

It’s so handy being able to send a picture of things like this to GPs without having to go in! We’ve used it a couple of times this year with some strange eczema my DS had. Hope you’re better soon OP

Thank you. Yes I’m glad I got antibiotics, it’s still as red as yesterday but it hasn’t got bigger than the line I drew, so assume that’s promising. I’ve taken 3 of the antibiotic pills in the time my local pharmacy would have got their delivery so also glad I got them last night.

I once had a wart frozen off my finger at the doctors and a few days later had a red line travelling from it up to my elbow...I had no obvious sign of infection and felt perfectly well. I went to the doctors to get it checked out and it turned out to be septicaemia. I was put on strong antibiotics, had to keep my arm elevated at all times and the doctor called me two days later to see if it had reduced, thankfully it had. He said if I’d have left it any longer it would have travelled to my armpit and then my brain and I would have been seriously ill in hospital. Scared the living daylights out of me but also taught me a valuable life lesson. Glad you got checked out when you did and hope you feel better soon!

@Beconase20

I’m glad you’re ok. That sound scary.

Did you have a temp or any other signs other than the red line? Wonder if I should also keep my leg elevated? My OH would LOVE that!!!

@Beconase20

Sorry, one more question, how long did it take to look less red after starting the antibiotics?

My ankle is sore today which has made me paranoid the infection has spread, but it doesn’t look res

So glad you got it seen to. Antibiotics generally take 48 hours to really get going so you should start seeing some improvement soon