Hangnail Wound - What to Do?

[TunipTheVegimal24]

Such a gross hangnail infection. Am on antibiotics (Flucloxacillin), but it feels like it's getting worse.

It's now purple, and it feels like the growth has caused an ingrowing fingernail 😭

I feel quite worried. Will it be okay?? Any tips to ease the pressure or pain?

When did you start the antibiotics?

I have a horrible, fleshy, nerve filled wound. It hurts so much.

Friday afternoon.

Pic here.

I would expect to see progress tomorrow in that case. Watch out for infection, any tracking lines then straight to A and E.

That looks painful. Draw around the red infected area with biro and try and hold arm up to lessen the blood flow? If it's getting worse tomorrow I would seek medical advice.

Sorry, are "tracking lines", the red lines, which can cone out? Or something different?

You need some drawing ointment on it (magnesium sulphate paste).
You get it from the pharmacy and dab a little on the wound, cover with a loose plaster.
It draws the pus out and works really well.

No, random red lines appearing on your hand or arm. They can look vivid like scratches or more faint. It can be the start of sepsis and you need to go to A&E. Hopefully won’t happen though!

The fleshy red lump is hypergranulation tissue so you've probably got a spike of nail in there that your skin is desperately trying to heal but the spike is acting as an irritant so it goes into overdrive .

As it is on your finger you need to be careful not to knock it or catch it on your clothes or a towel.

If it was mine I;d use a solution of boiled water with a teaspoon of salt cooled to warm temperature (not hot but not cold )

Years ago I caught my finger in a filing cupboard and got a build up of pus under my nail . I used sterile thin clippers to hoik out a piece of nail (and glorious pus ) but I am a Podiatrist and it was my own finger ! . ( I am not insured to treat hands )

Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in but you might need to see someone at minor injuries to cut the nail back if theres a spike there .

Thanks @70isaLimitNotaTarget Yes, I can see it is definitely hypergranulation, as you say. I can feel the nail spike in there, it's AGONY if I knock it. You must be made of stern stuff, to have dug your own nail spike out 😬although the relief afterwards must have been incredible!

Have been using the cooled, boiled salt water and betnovate. Worse than ever today though - will call GP tomorrow and beg them to see me!!

Keep soaking in salt water multiple times a day.

They've given me strong antibiotics and painkillers but won't remove the ingrowing nail because apparently it's "not something that the NHS do". Can't see how it can possibly heal, with the nail continuing to cause injury 😭