Cuts, scrapes, and bruises

Got my bloodwork back from the clinic today, and turns out I’ve been prescribed Klimicin 300, three times a day. Well, at least now I actually know what I'm dealing with. 😛

I accidentally nicked my finger at home—just a tiny cut that didn't even bleed much. I didn't think twice about it until three days later when I noticed this swelling right where the cut was... looks a lot like a wart and it's pretty painful. The next day, a little white tip popped up, and when I tried to squeeze it, some pus came out. The swelling went down for a bit, but by the next morning, there was an even larger white head sitting there. Tried cleaning it again, but this time there was blood too. A few hours later, the pain is back and the swelling hasn't budged.

Any advice?

thanks

@placidtinker9 - depends on what you’ve got stashed in your medicine cabinet, maybe some antibiotic powder or a cream. Neosporin powder, for instance—you can just grab a little 5g tube over the counter at CVS, it's cheap, lasts forever, and honestly, it's one of those things you definitely want on hand for stuff like this.

you sure there isn't anything left in the cut? looks to me like you might have a foreign object stuck in there or something.

if it doesn't settle down, or if the redness starts spreading, the pain ramps up, the finger feels hot to the touch, or it starts swelling... get to a doctor. You're gonna need a round of antibiotics.

...

Tyler James5 said:@placidtinker9 - depends on what you’ve got stashed in your medicine cabinet, maybe some antibiotic powder or a cream. Neosporin powder, for instance—you can just grab a little 5g tube over the counter at CVS, it's cheap, lasts forever, and honestly, it's one of those things you definitely want on hand for stuff like this.

you sure there isn't anything left in the cut? looks to me like you might have a foreign object stuck in there or something.

if it doesn't settle down, or if the redness starts spreading, the pain ramps up, the finger feels hot to the touch, or it starts swelling... get to a doctor. You're gonna need a round of antibiotics.

...

The thing is, I wasn't really paying attention since the scratch wasn't even 0.5 cm... I don't even know how I cut myself—just moving some things around at the office and suddenly noticed a bit of blood on my finger. I think there was a tiny black speck inside, and I actually tried squeezing it a few times, so I'm pretty sure that caused the infection... maybe my hands weren't clean, or my nails...

I started some antibiotics on my own; the instructions for Almacin say they work against skin infections, so I'll take them tonight and tomorrow hoping it clears up.

Are these kinds of infections common, anyway? This is the first time it's happened to me—I've cut myself a million times before, even deep ones, and they usually just heal fine without any disinfectant or anything...

placidtinker9 said:The thing is, I wasn't really paying attention since the scratch wasn't even 0.5 cm... I don't even know how I cut myself—just moving some things around at the office and suddenly noticed a bit of blood on my finger. I think there was a tiny black speck inside, and I actually tried squeezing it a few times, so I'm pretty sure that caused the infection... maybe my hands weren't clean, or my nails...

I started some antibiotics on my own; the instructions for Almacin say they work against skin infections, so I'll take them tonight and tomorrow hoping it clears up.

Are these kinds of infections common, anyway? This is the first time it's happened to me—I've cut myself a million times before, even deep ones, and they usually just heal fine without any disinfectant or anything...

Look, I’m telling you this for your own good—please, just don't go making some potentially massive, total idiot move here.
Look, let’s be real here—you can't just go around handing out antibiotics like they're candy. That's strictly doctor territory. Unless you're a medical professional or someone who's basically spent their entire life studying pharmacology to handle those super niche, specific scenarios, you really shouldn't be touching that stuff.
So, you should probably head over to your doctor's office tomorrow for that wound checkup and whatever else is on the schedule. They’ll likely need to take a look at how things are healing, and honestly, it might be a good idea to see if you're due for a tetanus shot too. Depending on what they find, they might even suggest a little surgical debridement just to make sure everything stays clean and heals up right. Better safe than sorry, I guess.

velvetmoose9 said:Look, I’m telling you this for your own good—please, just don't go making some potentially massive, total idiot move here.
Look, let’s be real here—you can't just go around handing out antibiotics like they're candy. That's strictly doctor territory. Unless you're a medical professional or someone who's basically spent their entire life studying pharmacology to handle those super niche, specific scenarios, you really shouldn't be touching that stuff.
So, you should probably head over to your doctor's office tomorrow for that wound checkup and whatever else is on the schedule. They’ll likely need to take a look at how things are healing, and honestly, it might be a good idea to see if you're due for a tetanus shot too. Depending on what they find, they might even suggest a little surgical debridement just to make sure everything stays clean and heals up right. Better safe than sorry, I guess.

I'm actually traveling abroad right now without insurance, and I really don't feel like hitting up an ER just to drop $300 or $400 on this.

And where is this whole tetanus thing coming from regarding a simple cut? 😕

Hey there,
I was wondering if anyone here has dealt with wounds like this before... my doctor is being totally tight-lipped about it and won't give me any straight answers, which is driving me crazy because I really need to know what I'm looking at.
I stepped on a shard of glass that got stuck right in my foot.
How long does it actually take for skin like this to heal up?
And does anyone have tips on how to get rid of a bruise like this as fast as possible?

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/9831/imag0010cc.jpg

Anyone know the easiest way to get a bandage off when it’s stuck to the wound? Cut my finger two days ago and now it’s totally fused to the skin... I have no clue how to soak it off or anything... HELP!

Gently moisten the area and then slowly begin to peel the bandage away.

Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to dab some hydrogen peroxide on there—the kind you grab at CVS. Honestly, I’d probably suggest something else 😁 though. It does a decent job of moistening the scab while cleaning things out, so it isn't a total waste of time.

I’m guessing you managed to get that bandage off.

To keep the gauze from sticking to the wound, grab some petroleum gauze from the pharmacy.

First, clean the area out with some 3% hydrogen peroxide or an antiseptic spray like Hibiclens.
Gently dab it with a sterile pad, then lay down a piece of that petroleum gauze (make sure it's a bit larger than the wound itself), top it with another sterile pad, and wrap it up.

When it comes time to change it, just peel away the petroleum gauze gently—it should separate easily without pulling at the wound.

Thanks for all the help, everyone! Managed to get the bandage off... just got the Steri-Strips left now (I survived)...

Need some advice on treating a cut 🤔

I sliced my finger on a tin can lid. It’s not super long—maybe about half an inch—but I wrapped it in a paper towel and the bleeding finally stopped. Now it just kind of oozes onto the towel whenever I press it...

Not sure how to handle this now. Should I wrap it in a bandage, or just let it air out...?
The look of it is bothering me, too. The skin isn't cleanly sliced like when you use a kitchen knife; it's more like the edges are pulled apart. Will it actually knit back together and heal normally if I just use a bandage or some tape, or what?🤦

I’m guessing it’s not that deep, since the bleeding stopped pretty fast? If it’s deeper than like two millimeters or if the edges are gaping more than a millimeter apart... yeah, you should probably head to an urgent care. But if it's shallow, just grab some Steri-Strips from the drugstore. They’re those tiny but super strong adhesive strips they use for minor cuts that don't need actual stitches. Just make sure you keep your finger dry for at least three days

So, two days ago I took a bit of a tumble on the sidewalk and scraped up my palms. They weren't super deep or anything, and I made sure to clean them out right away with some rubbing alcohol and iodine, but looking at them now, I don't think they're totally clean. It actually looks like they might be starting to get a little bit of pus in them. I guess there’s a chance these kinds of things just clear up on their own since they aren't deep wounds, right? Or should I probably head to the doctor? I honestly feel so lazy about going in for such a minor scrape, but I know it could turn into a bigger deal if I'm not careful.

So, I had a "minor" little mishap today and ended up getting some stitches in my lower leg. The resident finished sewing me up and wrapped the wound, but by the time I walked from the car to my front door—maybe 200 yards or so—the bandage had already completely slipped out of place. Is it actually safe for me to strip this off, apply a fresh dressing myself, and wrap it back up? What should I be using to treat the wound? My follow-up appointment at the Mayo Clinic isn't until Monday, and there is absolutely no way this current wrapping is going to hold up until then. Also, what’s the best way to handle showering? Can I just go overboard with some plastic wrap around my knee to keep it dry?
Thanks for the help.

Joshua Baker77 said:So, I had a "minor" little mishap today and ended up getting some stitches in my lower leg. The resident finished sewing me up and wrapped the wound, but by the time I walked from the car to my front door—maybe 200 yards or so—the bandage had already completely slipped out of place. Is it actually safe for me to strip this off, apply a fresh dressing myself, and wrap it back up? What should I be using to treat the wound? My follow-up appointment at the Mayo Clinic isn't until Monday, and there is absolutely no way this current wrapping is going to hold up until then. Also, what’s the best way to handle showering? Can I just go overboard with some plastic wrap around my knee to keep it dry?
Thanks for the help.

Regarding the wound itself, I would just place some sterile gauze over it and then apply a bandage—or perhaps that first layer you mentioned, which I assume is the one with the built-in gauze pad?
Don't put anything on it if it's been stitched; those sutures need to stay dry, and as far as I know, you shouldn't treat a sutured wound with any topical ointments.
As for showering, do exactly what you suggested by wrapping it in plastic film; that is precisely what they told me to do at the hospital after my knee surgery.

rustymason82 said:Regarding the wound itself, I would just place some sterile gauze over it and then apply a bandage—or perhaps that first layer you mentioned, which I assume is the one with the built-in gauze pad?
Don't put anything on it if it's been stitched; those sutures need to stay dry, and as far as I know, you shouldn't treat a sutured wound with any topical ointments.
As for showering, do exactly what you suggested by wrapping it in plastic film; that is precisely what they told me to do at the hospital after my knee surgery.

Yeah, that first dressing is basically a pressure bandage, like the kind you'd find in a standard American first aid kit.
If my wife heads out to the pharmacy tomorrow, she'll pick some supplies up so we don't have to raid the emergency kit in the car.
Good call on the plastic wrap, thanks for the tip.
The doctors were in such a rush because there was already some guy waiting in the hallway with frostbitten fingers from a table saw, so I didn't want to be a nuisance by asking too many questions. Honestly, I don't even know how many stitches I actually have.😁

Whenever I head out on a trip, I make sure to pack my own little emergency kit—you know, the kind of survivalist setup with gauze and a utility knife—because honestly, since I started that mandatory year-long blood thinner regimen, I’ve become a total bleeding mess. Even a tiny little scratch or a freaking rose thorn can turn into a whole thing, and I end up bleeding everywhere if I'm not prepared enough to patch myself up immediately.

What can I apply to these skin cracks to get them to scab over and heal faster?

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