Infected Cut on Finger

A little negligence while chopping vegetables or working with sharp objects can land you in deep trouble. A little cut on your finger may seem harmless and not-so-painful initially. However, if you fail to attend to it, it may lead to infection, which can be pretty nasty. The main reason why minor finger cut turns into more painful infection is because people tend to ignore it, thinking, it'll heal all by itself. The truth is that, just like any other injury on your body, this minor injury needs as much attention.

Firstly, you need to figure out, if your cut is really infected or not. So, how do you know when a cut is infected? The answer is simple, you need to minutely observe the appearance of your wound.

Now, if you are wondering about what does an infected cut look like, let me tell you, redness is the first thing you'll notice if you've got an infected cut on finger. However, you need to monitor your wound for a couple of days to actually confirm the infection.

One simple trick is to take a pen, and mark the red area around the wound. Make the marking at the boundary, where the red area meets the normal skin color. If you find that the redness has exceeded the marking, then you probably have an infection. Other symptoms include blisters, pus filled lesions, etc.

The treatment begins with cleaning the infected cut. You should use an antiseptic solution to clean the wound, so as to prevent bacterial infection. Use a clean cotton swab to clean the wound, and apply an antiseptic ointment such as neosporin to it. Cover the wound with a clean bandage to avoid further infection. You can also use commercially available antibiotics for infected cuts.

Turmeric is the best home remedy to heal infected cuts and scrapes. Dust some turmeric powder on the wound to get instant relief. Sprinkling turmeric powder on fresh wound controls bleeding, and also prevents bacterial infection. Alternatively, you can also dip your finger in salt water to disinfect the cut, however, brace yourself for the stinging sensation before attempting this remedial measure.

Appropriate care is necessary to fasten the healing process, and also to avoid further complications. It is extremely important that you execute utmost care and caution until the cut heals completely. Avoid putting your finger in water unless absolutely necessary.

Water retention in the wound leads to pus formation, which can worsen the condition. Also, don't cover it with a bandage for too long. Regularly clean the wound and inspect its condition.

Proper nursing can accelerate the healing process, and give you quick relief from an infected cut. However, if you find your infection too painful, or the appearance of the wound starts degrading, do not hesitate to consult your physician, for it may be an indication of some serious complication.