Paronychia? Pic included

[NomsQualityStreets]

The skin around my nail is swollen and hot and I think it looks like there's some pus collecting on one side. It's very painful, especially when touched.

Quick Google says it's something called Paronychia and it needs a scalpel in it I'm not keen on that idea.

Anything I can do to relieve the pain before I decide to book myself in with the GPs come Monday?

Please excuse the state of my nails I'm on the go 24/7 with a newborn and toddler and barely manage a shower ATM

Yes, its a paronychia - fancy word for a little abscess around the nail.
Chances are it will come to a head and burst itself long before you get anywhere near the GP on Monday.

Try some hot salty water soaks.

You can try some heat compresses and with a sterile needle pierce the skin. It will Harley hurt and the relief immediate. Dab with betadine or similar and cover.
Or buy some magnoplasm - fantastic stuff. Apply, cover with occlusive bandaid and leave overnight. Will hopefully draw the pus out.

hardly !

With the way it hurts I'd be dreading sticking a needle in it in case it's worse? And the pus doesn't seem that close to the surface?

It's really annoying

I really wouldn’t waste a doctors time and take up an appointment with this

@BatFinked you're probably right, I was just going off what I read online which advised to make an appointment.

It's worse now and really throbbing, I wince everytime I touch something.

Sterilise a pin with a flame and stick it in. Your finger won't drop off, promise

Here it is now

I'm just worried that it's too deep in if that makes sense?

PIN TIME!!!

I had one very much like that - ow. It burst spontaneously when it got to that point. Instant relief, but a weird nail for the next 6 months or so while it grew out - the abscess left it lumpy and deformed.

I think I’d be heating a pin in a flame right now.

I've had that before. The relief when I stuck a needle in it was immense, I honestly would soak a needle in boiling salt water and pierce it. You'll feel better for it!

I get them a few times a year. I usually burst them in the shower. Yours looks especially painful!

I didn’t even sterilise the needle but do it! Honestly the relief is immense. If you put some Savlon on with a plaster it will make it a bit soggy but help keep it clean. Like pp it took a while for my nail to grow out.

I have memories of my sister screaming whilst our DM made her put her finger in an egg cup of hot water.

My DS needed oral antibiotics for his paronychia, keep an eye that the red doesn't spread up your finger. If self care doesn't help I would see the GP.

I’ve just finished a week’s worth of antibiotics for similar so I would certainly go to the GP and take their advice

Ooh that’s nasty! DS gets these a lot and if an initial pop with a sterile needle and a dressing and a soak with salty water doesn’t sort it, it needs a doctor. Especially if the redness spreads.

Relief yet?

Ooh you definitely need a pin in that, the relief will be instant and watching the pus ooze out, so satisfying.

Stick in a pin in that!

It’s a newborn thing, I got that with both of mine!

Stick a pin in it & pull the skin away from the nail - that’ll drain it quicker.

I remember them hurting, but mostly the pleasure of it bursting

If you stick a pin in it (which I would do!) please record it

I would SO be squeezing that
I had one as a child. The pIn was horrific in the night- still remember it now. Strawberry disprin didn’t work!

Sterilised pin - gently get out what you can after soaking in warm salted water. Then apply mag sulphate and sterile bandages.
Doctors if the redness spreads, so I'd draw a line around the redness so you can track if it enlarges.