General Medical Question - Urgent - What should I do?

[Pomegranate]

Hi

I have two cuts from thursday night. They are about 3-4 millimetres deep, 4-5 mm wide and about and an inch and a half long (I think but I am useless with measurements). One was a bit gapy so I used plaster strips to hold it together and then I wound gauze tightly round both of them that night but the next morning the first one still looked 'fresh' as though it had just been done and was bleeding a little although looked less wide. Since then I havent put anything on them.

In the last couple of days they have started to heal but the area surrounding them (about 2 centimetres radius) is reddy pink and hot and has been especially bad today. There is still no real scab on one of them but it is half filled with yellow stuff. The other has a yellowy uneven sort of scab. They are sore to touch and the area is sore if I use the arm to lift anything.

What should I do? How do I treat them and care for them discreetly? Why are they like this?

Please help! Thanks

[Bitter_Angel]

I think that your cuts ay be infected.
Do you still have the plaster strips on?

[Pomegranate]

no I took them off the next day because, well I dont know, but I was stupid and did.

[Bitter_Angel]

This wound sounds to me like it might need looking at. You should probably get it checked out with a doctor or nurse really.

In the mean time, you should put plenty of anti bacterial cream on a non stick gazuze over the wound. Use something like an Tuigrip to hold it in place. Change the dressing regularly (twice a day) each time putting more cream on it.

You should also observe for the redness/pain/swelling getting worse. If the pain feels like it is traveling up from the area, then you should be seen imediatley as infections can spread to the blood system quickly.

Take care
Kim

[Pomegranate]

Thanks for the advice Kim, you're a star!