Has anyone used Alginate Dressings and can you reassure me?

[stealthsquiggle]

I burned a largeish (3cm * 2cm) hole in my arm on the woodburner (caught forearm on the edge of the door just above the glove that I was wearing) last Wednesday night.

Since it was raw and sore and quite deep, and not really scabbing over, I got some of these on Sunday. First one filled up with blood and gunk and I ended up changing it after 24 hours because it looked so gross - so I cleaned and disinfected hole (sorry if TMI) and put another one on, which has been there ~36 hours now, and is stained through with yellow gunk.

The packet says they are supposed to stay on for 3-7 days - so are they supposed to do this, or is it infected? It bloody hurts, and the skin around the hole is pink, but it's not hot or anything - just looks gross (although less gross than last one, as no blood...)

Basically I want someone to tell me that it is all fine and normal and I am just being a wus...

Any burn larger than a 50p should be seen by a doctor. If it is a deep burn you really must do this as it can become infected. Don't stick any creams on it but keep it dry and clean the go see someone please!

Forgot to mention I am a st John ambulance trained first aider.

Bugger. Thought you might say that. It's a PITA, unfortunately - we are very rural so no walk in centres and last time I enquired about seeing a nurse at the GP's they said I would have to see a GP first, which seemed daft to me - doesn't need a doctor, it needs a nurse . Maybe I will walk in tomorrow and see what they say when confronted with manky arm.