to be in agony

[abbacadaba]

I have utterly shit skin- psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis and reactions. Im usually under the hospital but with covid backlogs its been difficult to get
usual appointments. Its way beyond the stage that normal moisturisers are enough to manage it unfortunately.

I've had extremely dry skin recently and my finger split at the joint and opened into a big cut. It happens regularly due to the dermatitis so I kept with my usual treatment. Unfortunately its not healed and because where it is, the cut keeps reopening when I move my finger even when I bandaged and taped my finger to keep it straight to try and let it heal. Its really deep now- much much deeper than my usual split skin and im starting to worry its too deep to heal on its own. Its not superficial anymore- its actually going into the insides of my finger and I can see some gunky stuff inside it (sorry, TMI). Not bone deep but not superficial either. I think it might also be infected now too despite keeping it clean and covered etc.

its absolutely THROBBING tonight.I had to ice it to get some relief but its not bloody helped. Its agony! Its not even a cut that could be stitched either- its all cracked and rough and its gunky now too because of the infection.

I should have got it seen to sooner but I was worried about being a time-waster for a sore finger and then it got a lot deeper/worse quickly. I asked a pharmacist for advice who was visibly disgusted when I showed her and said there's no way she could help
with it.

Has anyone else ever had this and did it go away eventually? just worried it will leave a big scar and look ugly. I'm going to book an appointment with the GP obviously so im not asking for medical advice as such, just advice in the interim or any personal tips or advice as im starting to worry this will never heal since it won't be stitchable/gluable etc. everything always seems worse at 3am when you're alone and in pain!

When is your GP appointment? If it hurts as much as you say it does, honestly ring 111 - it might be severely infected and the start of sepsis. I’m not being dramatic, if it’s genuinely agony then don’t wait with it.

Could you soak it in warm salty water? Might ease the pain and soften the skin a bit?

Agree with pp - don't want to stress you unduly but I heard I thing on the radio lately that absolute agony in an infected wound is a real warning sign of something more serious... Ring 111!

especially if near a joint. it's worth having it seen.

Aw, OP it sounds awful. I wonder if you are understimating to yourself how bad it is, because you've gotten used to having skin issues. If this was sudden (appeared overnight) I expect you'd want to be seen straight away, it's just that you've put up with it for so long that you almost don't notice it.

It sounds very painful, and in an awkward place for healing. You must push to be seen and get some advice on it.

I suspect the gunky stuff you can see through a cut on the back of a finger joint is the extensor tendon.

Regardless of whether its infected (sounds like it is), that will need a plastic surgery opinion. Unfortunately, for acute access most routes do rely on an attendance at minor injuries or ED.

Sounds like it's infected to me too - the throbbing and extreme pain isn't normal for a cut. Definitely call 111 and if you can't get a gp appointment within the next 24hrs I think A&E should be your next stop. I'm also suprised at the pharmacist who should at least have given you advice on what to do next.

As an aside - have you tried pure shea butter for your very dry skin?

Have you looked into a ketogenic diet to help?

Yeah I think that’s correct- I’ve become so used to having cuts on my hand from my skin bursting and it’s become sort of normal now and I think I see it as less serious because of that! I actually was going to go to a&e last night at some point as it was honestly excruciating but I convinced myself I’d be time wasting as it’s not an emergency and its only the tip of my finger. I’m hopefully seeing the doctor on Friday for it.

i don’t have any sepsis symptoms and I’m not actually unwell but if I was generally unwell from it I would absolutely go down to a&e thank for you for the tips, sepsis is definitely not something to waste time with.

i’ll try a salt water bath- it’ll hurt getting salt in it but it should help any infection before it gets seen on Friday

i’ll try and get a photo and post it so it’s clearer what it’s like x

Kind of a gross photo sorry- should have put a trigger warning. This is it. It’s not coming up very clearly but the split is at the side of the finger at the top joint.

This happened to me and none of my creams worked. I think it was infected in the end because I ended up putting rosecea antibiotic gel on it in a moment of frustration and it was loads better the next morning. I'd keep it clean and dry and see a Dr ASAP. Obviously don't recommend my method!

Oh that’s great to know! I’ll ask at the pharmacy if I can get some rosacea gel in the meantime before the appointment. Thanks!

It looks like an infection that needs antibiotics with the redness around the cut. You should really get it seen before Friday. It could be much worse by then.
I get skin infections once or twice a year and have learnt that, whether I see GP, minor injuries unit or A&E (depending on whether I can get an appointment) they always take it seriously.

Goodness, that looks very painful. If it gets any worse at all I think you should go to a&e pronto.

You should go to a&e. It needs glueing or stitching. That’s very nasty. Put some germolene on it.

That does look like I needs seeing by gp

I too get cracked eczema and have had some success with blistet/hydrocolloid plasters

You don't need the cushioned blister plasters, Asda or Morrisons own brand are good though still expensive

I think I got some hydrocolloid from Tesco

Oh, that looks painful, you poor thing. I know just the kind of cut you mean and how hard it is to heal.

I am willing to bet money you are currently using the wrong meds. Your usual steroid creams are unlikely to be the antibacterial ones, because you only get those prescribed when you need them, i.e. when your skin breaks and gets infected. So, you need that doctor's appointment.

Can I also suggest you ask them to prescribe medicated plasters? It's a thing. They're dosed up with steroids, and you can cut them to size.

In the interim between seeing your doctor - go to a really large Boots or Superdrug. You can buy bandages that stick to themselves, rather than the wound. You can use this to keep the cut 'open' but 'protected'. The trouble with a nasty wound like that is if you use one of the hydrocolloid plasters and position it slightly wrong, you're going to make matters worse. (I speak from experience - those kind of plasters keep the skin wet and weak, and you can end up worsening a cut that won't heal when you pull the plaster off.) So I'd suggest not trying to close it yourself, and instead in the interim, just keeping it clean and covered.

Sending you loads of sympathy, @abbacadaba . I've been there.