Er, my finger looks like it is going green. <pic!>

[RedLarvaYellowLarva]

Excuse brief typing - finger v sore!
My finger has been sore since Sunday. Swollen and red. Throbbing. I do not remember hurting it. Noticed yesterday a small green dot at the pain centre, and it is bigger and greener today. Photo not really doing it justice but gives some idea.
Should I bother the GP or ride it out a bit longer and see if it just goes away? Any idea what it is? Basic infection I can fight off myself or something to worry about?!
Aware picture looks a bit pathetic!

Go and see your friendly local pharmacist -they will tell you

Looks like a paronychia, you can try soaking it in warm salty water but it will probably need antibiotics to clear it up, or if it gets really tense a little hole making in your nail or lifting the nail away at the side to let the pus out and relieve the pressure

It's infected, I'd (and I have) sterilise/disinfect a needle, poke it & squeeze all the pus out.
Then wipe down with antiseptic (or better place it in water with drops of tea tee oil/tcp/dettol) to clean it off, then Savlon and plaster.

Keep it clean, you may have to do above twice, but if it gets larger or hotter or pain continues go to pharmacy/doctors.

Soak it for ages on salty water 3x a day and cover with savlon at night.

** in

Might see local pharmacist then tomorrow.
Thanks, APF, will try that. I see no pus though, I don't think it is full of pus (yet)? I just Googled paranychia and it does look like it!

Oops, more posts since I wrote (sloooowww typing today).
onedog, poke/needle where?

soak it in warm salty water for 10min. Pat dry then ease skin away from nail in corner, see if pus can be released. If you can ease the pressure it won't be painful and will self heal.

Thanks, Jenny, will try that later for sure (can't right now, alone with the little ones).

There is possibly more pus hidden below the skin, which is why it's hurting so much. You could ask for a nurse appt rather than a gp, they'll be able to treat it. Personally I'd avoid doing a diy job with a needle as there is a risk you'll make it worse.

Extra question: is this contagious?

I think i will do that, Paddington, thanks.

My son gets these. Soak it in hot water for a while, if it oozes press it gently then stick some TCP on it and that's the job done. Otherwise it's the minor injuries unit for lancing and/or antibiotics.

No, not contagious

I had that once, except much much larger - it lifted half my little fingernail off and it took forever for it to recover once the infection had gone, about four years.

Get some antibiotics, I would suggest!

George, do you know how we get them?

LVOC, four years??? OMG!

I just make a small hole in the yellow/green bit and then apply pressure to clear the pus (all the yellow/green gunk) and then personally I'd put the finger into warm water with tea tree for a few minutes to disinfect and then wipe with more antiseptic and then stick savlon on it with a plaster.

And keep an eye, if it gets worse or you can't bring yourself to diy, then I'd make an appt with the nurse at the surgery who can do it for you. I wouldn't leave it until half the finger goes yellow though like my mum did with me when I was 8

I wouldn't bother with antibiotics unless treating with antiseptic makes no difference in a week of trying.

Thanks. Just called clinic for a nurse appt but they said I had to see GP first.

If I DIY, shall I expect lots of sporn-worthy gunk?!

i had something like this once, it started throbbing late at night, i used the point on a scalpel to poke a hole and a load of pus came out. cleaned it with tcp and by morning it was much better.

Yeah, to be fair I left it until it had spread under about half of the nail (down one side; it was caused by a hangnail) and then it sorted itself out. I was travelling at the time, in my early twenties - so didn't want to spend any drinking money on seeing a dr.

Finger is throbbing more now, green is more too!
Been to pharmacist, she said see GP tomorrow.
Will do the warm soak thing soon now DH home. Not decided whether to stick a needle in myself yet or not! Need some relief!

Stick the needle in! It will be worth it for the relief!

settling in!

Dettol is your friend here!
Ignore the warning and use it neat.