Warning: gross picture. Would you get this checked?

[OneFrenchEgg]

Teen had a 'graze' at school - I noticed he had a pad on it a week ago and thought nothing more of it. Today I caught him poking it and took a look - first time I've seen it. Does this look like it is healing? I've used tcp and dressed with a clean pad and bandage. Just thinking maybe it needs looking at? Or just keep an eye on the red?

He's probably picked the scab off.
Doesn't look infected but definitely needs cleaning, dressing and leaving alone for a good couple of days; if no improvement, then maybe seek advice from your practice nurse.

It does look very inflamed around the outside. But it's not oozing or anything?

Maybe keep an eye on it for the next few days?

Then again I'm not medical so wouldn't necessarily take my advice!

Yes I would get that checked. The redness all around it indicates it might be beginning to be infected. If there's a practice nurse at your GP surgery she'd be able to help, and prescribe if required.

It looks like he’s picked the scab off if that’s a week after it happening because it looks really fresh. ( not a doctor btw).
Either get seen, but if not you could draw pen to mark the redness and if it’s getting bigger definitely seek help.

If that's a week old I'd definitely get it looked at asap. It looks quite infected to me and the red around the outside looks like beginning of cellulitis which is no fun and actually quite dangerous.

1. never leave a school injury unchecked as they can be a bit useless
2. I would actively monitor for today and try to get some NHS advice to check if infected

The bobbly bit in the middle looks like subcutaneous fat, not pus.
Some inflammation is normal with a cut- it’s how the healing cells get in.
What isn’t normal is anything tracking or spreading .
TCP isn’t the best for wounds, simple irrigation with saline is great. “Dilution is the solution to the pollution “ and all that 🙂.

Thank you, really helpful replies - will definitely be double checking school dressed stuff from now on.
Maybe I'll see what it's like at lunch now it's been tcp'ed and covered. Pharmacy maybe? Although they did recommend a cream for burns and I ended up at the minor injuries with several appointments for redressing so not sure for injuries.

Oops to TCP I think I was like 'nuke it!' Yes I think that's manky not pus. It's the redness that made me rethink my approach.

I would take him to minor injuries and get it looked at. It is quite a deep gouge out of his leg, and might take time to heal. Minor injuries will assess it and dress it properly.

Yikes id go to see the practice nurse to get that dressed

I was a bit surprised at that - it was described as a graze by him last week! I feel like teenagers is like toddlers again. I'm doing more parenting now than when they were tweenies!

If you can see subcutaneous fat ( i agree that's what it looks like) then it's deep enough to need attention. Ditto the redness round the outside.

Actually yes, it looks nasty.

I'd draw a line around the outer red in the meantime just so you can keep an eye on it to see if it gets bigger.

I agree with others saying that looks like subcutaneous fat that is visible and I would be concerned this actually needs stitches. I would certainly want a professional assessment of the wound because it is very open.

I am not a HCP, but I've seen many wounds like that in my family. I use hydrocolloid plasters on that sort of injury. The wound does not form an irritating scab under the plaster and because the plaster is clear you can see whether any inflammation gets worse.

If the redness spreads or the swelling gets worse get him seen ASAP. Photograph it every day or draw a line around the redness with pen to keep track of it.

I'd go with a hydro colloidal dressing as well. They stay on well, you leave them on until they fall off. It protects it and allows it to heal from the edges, without the dry scab.

That kind of injury can take ages to heal because every time the scab comes off the wound seems deeper. The hydro colloid dressing stops that happening.

Looks nasty I'd make a nurse appointment

If possible I would go now to urgent care or similar before it gets busier through the day.

Think that needs dressing and possibly cleaning .

antiseptic cream & clean dressing

those blister type plasters are great (big sizes over the counter at pharmacies).

if the redness worsens see minor injuries.

to me it looks like he has kept pickkng at the scab and it didn't get a chance to heal.

The yellow bit is what we call slough. Looks slightly infected to me from the redness. Draw a line to track round it. Needs cleaning and i would suggest a honey or silver dressing to lift the slough. Needs a sterile technique preferably. No poking and monitor the exudate/leakage. If its hot to touch around it could be cellulitic from it aswell.

Don’t put TCP or any antiseptic cream on it.

Just clean it with clean water and cover it. Then seek a nurse appointment, that’s quite deep and needs a suitable dressing like a foam or hydrocolloid.

It looks more inflamed (normal) than infected (abnormal) - disclaimer, hard to tell from a photo.

(practice nurse here, this is my bread and butter!)

Amazing thank you. Am going to read through properly and then see what we should do next.