Minor cuticle infection

zhen_rogue

I damaged the cuticle on my right-middle finger about 2 weeks ago.
In the last 2 or 3 days, i've noticed that the area is slightly red, the end of my finger is slightly swollen, and cuticle area itself is slightly painful if bumped.

If things don't improve with at-home treatment in a day or two, i'll go see the doc.
However, this is still very minor, and is not black/pussy/bleeding, I don't have a fever, i'm not typing this from my deathbed, my finger is not dropping chunks of necrotic skin.

Surely some of you have had this situation, and i'm interested in what at-home remedies you've had luck with in speeding the healing process.

So far, i'm doing the following:
-Washing my hands regularly, and keeping the area clean
-Soaking the finger in hot salt water for 20 min, 3x day
-Applying OTC anti-bacterial gel (bacitracin zinc) 3x daily after soaking

Thanks for any additional advice!

JebusUD

I've found that nothing works but wrapping it up so it doesn't bump into things. Then just leave it alone.

even what you are doing now sounds like overkill.

Captain Vash

yeah I get infected hangnails and infected cuticles all the time.

(you see I am a nail biter)

...and they just heal up given like a week or two. nothing to worry about.

Kotenk

I sort of left it alone one day until, after running it under hot water, I noticed puss come through the top of the nail area.... and then it was better. I won't recommend it because I don't know if that's why it got better, but maybe gently massaging it under hot water?

Belruel

you might have had an ingrown nail kotenk, i find that after the pressure and pus is gotten rid of on those, they feel a lot better.

to the op- just keep it clean, with neosporin on it and a bandaid.