I've had an infected finger (right hand, 5th finger) for a couple days and it is getting really sore. It is right around the nail bed and the tip (I think it started with a hang nail). It is red, hot and hard and I cannot bend it at the first knuckle. I looked online yesterday and found that soaking in hot salt water may help. I have been soaking it for about 30 minutes at a time every 2 or 3 hours and have been applying tea tree and calendula lotion in between. It's just not getting any better. Has anyone ever had this and if so, how did you treat it? My doctors surgery is crap and it is impossible to get an appointment (you have to ring at 8.30 to get an appointment for that day - by the time I get through the appointments are gone.)