How do you identify a puncture wound infection in your finger. What are the best treatment options for swollen fingers due to puncture wounds. When should you seek medical attention for a finger puncture wound. How long does it take for a puncture wound in the finger to heal completely.

Understanding Puncture Wounds and Their Impact on Fingers

Puncture wounds on fingers can be more than just a minor inconvenience. These injuries, often caused by sharp objects penetrating the skin, can lead to significant complications if not properly managed. Understanding the nature of puncture wounds and their potential consequences is crucial for effective care and prevention of further issues.

A puncture wound occurs when a narrow, pointed object pierces the skin, creating a small hole. While the external appearance may seem minimal, the damage beneath the surface can be substantial. In fingers, these wounds can be particularly problematic due to the dense network of nerves, blood vessels, and tendons packed into a small area.

Common Causes of Finger Puncture Wounds

• Needle sticks
• Splinters
• Animal bites
• Nail punctures
• Fish hook injuries
• Thorns or spines from plants

Why are puncture wounds in fingers particularly concerning? The compact structure of fingers means that even a small injury can affect multiple tissues. Moreover, the frequent use and exposure of hands to various environments increase the risk of infection.

Recognizing the Signs of Infection in Puncture Wounds

Infection is a primary concern with puncture wounds, especially in fingers. Prompt recognition of infection signs is crucial for timely intervention and prevention of more severe complications. But how can you tell if a puncture wound is infected?

Key indicators of infection include:

• Increased pain or tenderness around the wound site
• Redness extending beyond the immediate wound area
• Swelling that persists or worsens after 24-48 hours
• Warmth in the affected area
• Pus or cloudy fluid draining from the wound
• Fever or general feeling of illness

Is all swelling indicative of infection? Not necessarily. Some swelling is normal in the immediate aftermath of an injury. However, if swelling persists, increases, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it may signal an infection.

The Role of Bacteria in Puncture Wound Infections

Puncture wounds are particularly susceptible to bacterial infections due to their depth and small opening. Common culprits include:

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus species
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa (especially in moist environments)
• Clostridium tetani (causing tetanus)

In specific environments, such as saltwater, additional pathogens like Mycobacterium marinum or Vibrio vulnificus may be a concern. This underscores the importance of considering the context of the injury when assessing infection risk.

Immediate Care for Puncture Wounds in Fingers

Proper immediate care can significantly reduce the risk of infection and promote healing. What steps should you take right after sustaining a puncture wound to your finger?

1. Clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water
2. Apply gentle pressure to stop any bleeding
3. Apply an antibiotic ointment if available
4. Cover the wound with a sterile bandage
5. Elevate the hand to reduce swelling

Should you try to squeeze out any potential contaminants? This is generally not recommended as it can push harmful bacteria deeper into the wound. Instead, allow the wound to bleed slightly, which can help flush out contaminants naturally.

The Importance of Tetanus Prevention

Tetanus is a serious concern with puncture wounds. Ensure your tetanus vaccination is up to date. If you’re unsure or it’s been more than 5 years since your last booster, consult a healthcare provider about getting a tetanus shot.

Advanced Treatment Options for Infected Puncture Wounds

When home care isn’t sufficient, or if signs of infection appear, medical intervention becomes necessary. What treatments might a healthcare provider recommend for an infected puncture wound?

• Oral antibiotics to combat bacterial infection
• Incision and drainage (I&D) for abscesses
• Debridement to remove dead or infected tissue
• Intravenous antibiotics for severe infections
• Imaging studies (X-ray, MRI) to assess deeper structures

In some cases, particularly with deep infections or those affecting tendons, surgical intervention may be necessary. This is often the case with conditions like flexor tenosynovitis, a serious infection of the tendon sheath that can lead to long-term complications if not treated promptly.

The Role of Antibiotics in Treating Puncture Wound Infections

Antibiotic selection depends on various factors, including the suspected pathogen and the severity of the infection. Common choices include:

• Amoxicillin-clavulanate for broad coverage
• Cephalexin for skin flora infections
• Doxycycline for certain environmental exposures
• Vancomycin for suspected MRSA infections

Healthcare providers may adjust antibiotic regimens based on culture results or clinical response. It’s crucial to complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed, even if symptoms improve earlier.

Complications Associated with Untreated Finger Puncture Wounds

Neglecting proper care of puncture wounds can lead to severe complications. What are the potential consequences of an untreated finger puncture wound?

• Cellulitis: A spreading skin infection that can become systemic
• Septic arthritis: Infection of a joint, potentially leading to permanent damage
• Osteomyelitis: Bone infection, which can be challenging to treat
• Necrotizing fasciitis: A rare but life-threatening soft tissue infection
• Tendon damage: Leading to impaired finger function
• Nerve damage: Resulting in numbness or altered sensation

These complications underscore the importance of proper wound care and timely medical attention. Early intervention can prevent these severe outcomes and ensure better long-term hand function.

Recognizing the Need for Urgent Medical Care

While many puncture wounds can be managed at home, certain signs warrant immediate medical attention:

• Severe pain that worsens over time
• Rapidly spreading redness or swelling
• Fever or chills
• Loss of finger mobility
• Numbness or tingling in the affected finger
• Discoloration of the finger beyond the immediate wound area

When in doubt, it’s always safer to consult a healthcare provider. Prompt evaluation can prevent minor issues from escalating into more serious conditions.

The Healing Process: What to Expect After a Finger Puncture Wound

Understanding the typical healing timeline for puncture wounds can help manage expectations and identify potential issues. How long does it take for a puncture wound in the finger to heal completely?

The healing process generally follows these stages:

1. Hemostasis (blood clotting): Immediate to several hours
2. Inflammation: Peaks at 24-48 hours, subsides over several days
3. Proliferation (new tissue formation): Begins around day 3, lasts 2-3 weeks
4. Remodeling: Can continue for months to a year

Superficial puncture wounds may heal within a week, while deeper wounds can take several weeks. However, complete healing, including the remodeling phase, can extend much longer.

Factors Affecting Healing Time

Several factors can influence the healing rate of puncture wounds:

• Depth and location of the wound
• Presence of foreign bodies
• Overall health and age of the individual
• Proper wound care and hygiene
• Nutritional status
• Presence of underlying conditions (e.g., diabetes)

Optimizing these factors where possible can promote faster and more effective healing. Adequate nutrition, proper wound care, and management of underlying health conditions are crucial for optimal recovery.

Preventive Measures and Long-term Care for Finger Puncture Wounds

While not all puncture wounds are preventable, certain precautions can reduce the risk and severity of these injuries. How can you protect yourself from finger puncture wounds?

• Wear appropriate protective gear (e.g., gloves) when handling sharp objects
• Be cautious when using tools or working in environments with potential hazards
• Keep work areas clean and organized to reduce accidental injuries
• Properly dispose of sharp objects in designated containers
• Stay up to date with tetanus vaccinations

In the event of a puncture wound, prompt and proper care is essential. This includes thorough cleaning, appropriate dressing, and monitoring for signs of infection.

Long-term Considerations After Healing

Even after a puncture wound has healed, there may be long-term considerations:

• Scar formation and management
• Potential need for physical therapy to restore full function
• Monitoring for delayed complications
• Addressing any residual pain or sensitivity

Regular follow-up with healthcare providers can ensure any lingering issues are addressed promptly. Additionally, maintaining good hand hygiene and care practices can prevent future injuries and complications.

Special Considerations for High-Risk Individuals

Certain populations are at higher risk for complications from finger puncture wounds. Who should be especially cautious about these injuries?

• Diabetics: Impaired circulation and healing capacity
• Immunocompromised individuals: Higher infection risk
• Elderly: Slower healing and increased complication risk
• Those with peripheral neuropathy: Reduced sensation may delay injury recognition
• Individuals with bleeding disorders: Increased risk of prolonged bleeding

These high-risk groups should be particularly vigilant about prevention and seek medical attention promptly if a puncture wound occurs. Healthcare providers may recommend more aggressive treatment approaches for these individuals to prevent complications.

Occupational Risks and Precautions

Certain occupations carry a higher risk of puncture wounds to the fingers. These include:

• Healthcare workers (needle stick injuries)
• Construction workers
• Mechanics
• Gardeners and landscapers
• Fishermen and marine workers

Individuals in these professions should be particularly mindful of safety protocols and use appropriate protective equipment. Regular safety training and adherence to occupational health guidelines can significantly reduce the risk of injuries.

Hand Infections – American Family Physician

Please note: This information was current at the time of publication. But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org, the AAFP patient education website.

Information from Your Family Doctor

What causes hand infections?

Hand infections happen when there is an injury to the skin of the hand, fingers, cuticle, or nail folds. Common causes include manicures, ingrown nails, bites, or puncture wounds. Infections may appear in the fold of your nail, at the tip of your finger, or anywhere on your hand. Symptoms of an infection include pain, redness, and swelling. Sometimes viruses cause hand infections. People with these types of infections usually have blisters, mild burning, or itching.

Can I treat a hand infection myself?

Most minor skin infections respond well to home treatment. This includes warm water soaks, raising the hand above the heart, and resting the hand with the fingers slightly bent. Make sure to clean all open wounds with soap and water. Wounds that have drainage should be covered with a bandage. Never pop or remove the skin over a blister.

When should I see my doctor?

See your doctor if the infection gets worse or does not get better after you follow the steps above. You may need antibiotics or a procedure to get pus out of the wound.

These kinds of hand infections should be treated by your doctor right away:

• Any infection of the finger pad

• Bite wounds, including injuries caused by closed fists coming into contact with another person’s mouth

• Infections caused by an object entering the deep tissues of the hand

These types of infections can cause long-term problems if they are not treated quickly. See your doctor right away if you have trouble moving your fingers, if your entire finger is swollen, or if touching your finger hurts badly.

Adding Salt to the Wound — Brown Emergency Medicine

Based on the patient’s symptoms and physical exam findings, he is diagnosed with Flexor tenosynovitis (FTS). The patient undergoes bedside I &D by surgery and is started on IV Levofloxacin, Cefazolin and Doxycycline.

What is flexor tenosynovitis (FTS)?

Flexor tenosynovitis is inflammation of a flexor tendon and the surrounding sheath. If the inflammation progresses it can spread to adjacent compartments and may cause enough swelling to cause compartment syndrome. There are several different causes for this inflammation. The most common etiology is penetrating trauma in the form of a laceration, puncture wound, or bite wound. This was the likely etiology for this patient given the healing laceration found on exam. Depending on the nature of the trauma, different bacteria may be responsible for causing infection. Skin flora such as staph or strep are the most common pathogens. In this patient’s case, he is a salt water fisherman and thus the need to consider Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium fortuitum or Vibrio vulnificus as potential pathogens.

How is FTS diagnosed?

FTS is a clinical diagnosis. Patients may present with systemic symptoms of illness such as fever, tachycardia, hypotension or elevated WBC count. However, if the infection is more localized, these signs and symptoms may be absent. The Kanavel Signs are a set of criteria that are helpful in diagnosing FTS. The four signs are:

1. Pain along flexor surface with passive extension (early sign)

2. Fusiform swelling of the finger (sausage digit)

3. Finger held in passive flexion

4. Tenderness along flexor surface (late sign)

It is important to note that while The Kanavel signs are very sensitive for FTS, they are not highly specific.  

How is FTS treated?

This patient presented fairly early after the swelling and pain started and was successfully treated with bedside I&D along with IV antibiotics. In more advanced cases, patient may require surgery for a more thorough debridement and washout. This usually requires an urgent hand consult due to the potential for rapidly progressing infection. In a small subset of patients with very early infection, they may be successfully treated with antibiotic therapy without need for I & D or surgery. These patients usually present with milder symptoms including only localized inflammation (not fusiform swelling), ability to flex finger, and minimal pain with passive motion of involved tendon.

In patients without significant comorbidities, such as diabetes, or risk factors for potential marine exposure, Vancomycin and Ceftriaxone are the recommended first line antibiotic therapy. Pseudomonal coverage must also be considered in diabetic patients. If there is a history of salt water exposure, as in this patient, it is important to cover the patient broadly with a cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone. Bactrim can also be added for additional marine coverage which covers organisms such as Chromobacterium violaceum and Mycobacterium marium, while addition of Doxycycline covers organisms such as Mycobacterium fortuitum and Vibrio vulnificus. In this patient’s case, with his marine exposure, he was started on Cefazolin, Levofloxacin, and Doxycycline. He was admitted for two nights on IV antibiotics with significant improvement in pain and swelling. On hospital day three, he was transitioned to PO medications and discharged home.  

Faculty Reviewer: Dr. Kristina McAteer  

Sources:

1. Diaz, James H., and Fred A. Lopez. “Skin Soft Tissue and Systemic Bacterial Infections Following Aquatic Injuries and Exposures.” The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, vol. 349, no. 3, 2015, pp. 269–275.

2. Kennedy, Colin D., et al. “Differentiation Between Pyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis and Other Finger Infections.” Hand, vol. 12, no. 6, 2017, pp. 585–590.

3. Small, Lorne N., and John J. Ross. “Suppurative Tenosynovitis and Septic Bursitis.” Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, vol. 19, no. 4, 2005, pp. 991–1005.

Wound Infection | MedNow Clinics | Denver, CO | Aurora, CO | Lakewood, CO

Is this your symptom?

• Wound (break in the skin) shows signs of infection
• Stitched wounds, puncture wounds, and scrapes that look infected

Some Basics.

..

• A wound can become infected if bacteria get into the break in the skin.
• If a wound is infected, symptoms will appear 1-3 days after the injury.
• Wound infections need to be treated by a doctor.

Symptoms

• Bright red, sunburn-like rash all over body
• Fever
• Lymph node nearby may become large and tender (lymphadenitis)
• Pain or swelling gets worse after 48 hours since the wound happened
• Pimple or yellow crust formed on the wound (impetigo)
• Pus or cloudy fluid draining from the wound
• Red streak is spreading from the wound toward the heart (lymphangitis)
• Scab has gotten bigger
• Spreading redness near the wound (cellulitis)
• Wound has blisters or black dead tissue
• Wound hasn’t healed within 10 days after the injury
• Wound is very tender
• Wound smells bad

Types of Wound Infection

• Cellulitis
• Impetigo
• Lymphadenitis
• MRSA

What is MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant

Staphylococcus aureus)?

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that can cause skin and wound infections. These may be pimples, boils, abscesses, cellulitis, and impetigo.

In the 1960s, strains of resistant bacteria started showing up in hospitals. These were called MRSA strains. MRSA now causes more skin infections in healthy people. These are being called CA-MRSA strains. There have been outbreaks among athletes and in jails.

CA-MRSA may need to be treated with an antibiotic drug or other medical treatment. More information on CA-MRSA can be found at: www.cdc.gov/mrsa/.

When to Call for Wound Infection

Care Advice for Mild Redness of Wound

1. What You Should Know:
   • A wound can become infected if bacteria get into the break in the skin. If a wound is infected, symptoms will appear 1-3 days after the injury.
   • Wound infections need to be treated by a doctor.
   • You can treat a wound with mild redness at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.

2. Warm Soaks or Heat: If the wound is open, soak it in warm water. Do this for 20 minutes 3 times a day. You can also use a warm wet cloth. Use a warm salt water mixture. Make this with 2 teaspoons of table salt per quart of water. If the wound is closed, put a heating pad on the red area. Do this for 20 minutes 3 times a day. You can also use a warm, moist washcloth.

3. Antibiotic Ointment: Put this on the wound 3 times a day. If it could become dirty, cover the wound with an adhesive bandage (Band-Aid). You can also use a clean gauze.

4. Pain Medicine:
   • You can take one of the following drugs if you have pain: acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).
   • They are over-the-counter (OTC) pain drugs. You can buy them at the drugstore.
   • Use the lowest amount of a drug that makes your pain feel better.
   • Acetaminophen is safer than ibuprofen or naproxen in people over 65 years old.
   • Read the instructions and warnings on the package insert for all medicines you take.

5. What to Expect: Pain and swelling often are the worst on day 2. Any redness should go away within 3-4 days. You should be fully healed within 10 days.

6. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Wound becomes more tender
   • Redness starts to spread
   • Fever or the wound has pus or drainage
   • You think you need to be seen
   • You get worse

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the ‘Call Your Doctor’ symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Cellulitis (for Parents) – Nemours KidsHealth

What Is Cellulitis?

Cellulitis (sel-yuh-LY-tus) is a skin infection that involves areas of tissue below the surface of the skin.

Cellulitis can affect any area of the body, but it’s most common on exposed body parts, such as the face, arms, or lower legs.

What Causes Cellulitis?

Many different types of

bacteriacan cause cellulitis. The most common ones are group A streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus.

Cellulitis usually begins in an area of broken skin, like a cut, bite, or scratch. People who have body piercings can get cellulitis because the piercing hole is a way for bacteria to get beneath the skin’s surface.

But cellulitis can also start in areas where the skin isn’t broken, especially in people who have 

chronicconditions or who take medicines that affect the immune system.

Cellulitis is not contagious. It can’t spread from person to person.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Cellulitis?

Cellulitis begins with a small area of skin that’s:

As this area begins to spread, a child may begin to feel ill and get a fever and, sometimes, chills and sweats. Swollen lymph nodes (or swollen glands) are sometimes found near the area of infected skin.

The time it takes for symptoms to start varies, depending on which bacteria cause the cellulitis. For example, a child with cellulitis caused by Pasteurella multocida, often found in animal bites, can have symptoms less than 24 hours after the bite. But cellulitis caused by other types of bacteria may not cause symptoms for several days.

How Is Cellulitis Diagnosed?

A doctor can usually diagnose cellulitis by examining the area of affected skin. Sometimes the doctor may check for bacteria by taking blood samples. Positive blood cultures mean that bacteria from the skin infection have spread into the bloodstream. This can cause septicemia (blood poisoning), a serious infection.

How Is Cellulitis Treated?

For a mild case of cellulitis, doctors prescribe antibiotics. These can usually cure cellulitis in 7 to 10 days. Even if your child feels better sooner than that, it’s important to take all the antibiotics prescribed. Otherwise, the infection can return.

People with severe cases of cellulitis might need treatment in a hospital with intravenous (IV) antibiotics.

Can Cellulitis Be Prevented?

To prevent cellulitis, protect skin from cuts, bruises, and scrapes. This isn’t easy, especially in active kids or those who play sports.

Kids and teens should:

• Use elbow and knee pads while skating.
• Wear a bike helmet when riding.
• Wear shin guards during soccer.
• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts while hiking in the woods (this can also protect them from bug bites and stings).
• Wear sandals on the beach.

When kids do get a cut or scrape, wash it well with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the wound with an adhesive bandage or gauze. Check wounds often for the first few days to see if any signs of cellulitis begin.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Call your doctor if:

• Any area of your child’s skin becomes red, warm, and painful — with or without fever and chills. This is even more important if the area is on the hands, feet, or face, or if your child has an illness or condition that suppresses the immune system.
• Your child gets a large cut or a deep puncture wound.
• An animal bites your child, especially if the puncture wound is deep. Cellulitis can happen quickly after an animal bite. Human bites can cause skin infections too, so call the doctor if this happens.

What Can Parents Do?

• Make sure your child takes the antibiotics exactly as directed and for the full course.
• Follow the doctor’s suggestions for treating the area of cellulitis, such as elevating the affected part of the body or applying heat or warm soaks to it.
• You can give over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease pain and keep a fever down. Follow the package directions about how much to give and how often to give it.

After your child takes antibiotics for 1 or 2 days, the doctor may schedule an office visit to check that the area of cellulitis has improved. This means that the antibiotics are working against the infection.

Necrotising fasciitis – NHS

Necrotising fasciitis is a rare but serious bacterial infection that affects the tissue beneath the skin and surrounding muscles and organs (fascia).

It’s sometimes called the “flesh-eating disease”, although the bacteria that cause it do not “eat” flesh, but release toxins that damage nearby tissue.

Necrotising fasciitis can start from a relatively minor injury, such as a small cut, but gets worse very quickly and can be life threatening if it’s not recognised and treated early on.

Symptoms of necrotising fasciitis

The symptoms of necrotising fasciitis develop quickly over hours or days.

They may not be obvious at first and can be similar to less serious conditions, such as flu, gastroenteritis or cellulitis.

Early symptoms can include:

• a small but painful cut or scratch on the skin
• intense pain that’s out of proportion to any damage to the skin
• a high temperature (fever) and other flu-like symptoms

After a few hours to days, you may develop:

• swelling and redness in the painful area – the swelling will usually feel firm to the touch
• diarrhoea and vomiting
• dark blotches on the skin that turn into fluid-filled blisters

If left untreated, the infection can spread quickly through the body and cause symptoms such as dizziness, weakness and confusion.

When to get medical help

Necrotising fasciitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

Go to your nearest A&E department as soon as possible if you think you have it.

Call 999 for an ambulance if you’re too unwell to get yourself to A&E.

Blood tests and scans may be carried out to find out what’s causing your symptoms, although a diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis can usually only be confirmed by having an operation to examine the affected tissue.

Treatments for necrotising fasciitis

Necrotising fasciitis needs to be treated in hospital.

The main treatments are:

• surgery to remove infected tissue – this may be repeated several times to ensure all the infected tissue is removed (amputation of affected limbs may be necessary sometimes)
• antibiotics – usually several different types are given directly into a vein
• supportive treatment – including treatment to control your blood pressure, fluid levels and organ functions

People with necrotising fasciitis often need to be looked after in an intensive care unit and may need to stay in hospital for several weeks.

While in hospital, they may be isolated from other patients to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.

Outlook for necrotising fasciitis

Necrotising fasciitis can progress very quickly and lead to serious problems, such as blood poisoning (sepsis) and organ failure.

Even with treatment, it’s estimated that 1 or 2 in every 5 cases are fatal.

People who survive the infection are sometimes left with long-term disability as a result of amputation or the removal of a lot of infected tissue.

They may also need further surgery to improve the appearance of the affected area and ongoing rehabilitation support to help them adapt to their disability.

Causes of necrotising fasciitis

Necrotising fasciitis can be caused by several different types of bacteria.

The bacteria lives in the gut, throat and, in some people, on the skin, where they do not usually cause any serious problems.

In rare cases, the bacteria can cause necrotising fasciitis if they get into deep tissue, either through the bloodstream or an injury or wound, such as:

• cuts and scratches 
• insect bites 
• puncture wounds caused by injecting drugs
• surgical wounds

The infection can also be spread from person to person, but this is very rare.

Necrotising fasciitis can also be a rare side effect of a type of diabetes medicine known as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.

Anyone can get necrotising fasciitis, including young and otherwise healthy people, but it tends to affect older people and those in poor general health.

Preventing necrotising fasciitis

There’s no vaccine for necrotising fasciitis and it’s not always possible to prevent it.

The following measures may help to reduce your risk:

• treat wounds quickly – after stopping any bleeding, clean wounds with running water and pat them dry with a clean towel
• keep wounds clean and dry – after a wound has been cleaned, cover it with a sterile dressing, such as a plaster, and change the dressing if it gets wet or dirty
• wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water – alcohol-based hand gels can also help, but washing with soap and water is generally best

If you’re in close contact with someone who has necrotising fasciitis, you may be given a course of antibiotics to reduce your risk of infection.

Further information

There is one UK based charity for people affected by necrotising fasciitis:

Page last reviewed: 10 April 2019
Next review due: 10 April 2022

Hand and Wrist Laceration | The Christ Hospital Health Network

Hand and wrist laceration symptoms

Is your laceration healing properly? If you keep the area clean, the chance of infection is low. However, watch for these signs of infection:

• Fever

• Foul odor coming from the cut

• Increased pain

• Pus or discharge coming from the cut or scrape

• Redness, swelling or warmth in the affected area

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor for treatment.

Hand and wrist laceration diagnosis   

When a wound appears to be more than a minor cut, medical attention may be necessary. Experts at The Christ Hospital Health Network recommend seeking medical treatment if your laceration is:

• A puncture wound 

• Bleeding heavily and does not stop bleeding after 5 to10 minutes of direct pressure

• Caused by a dirty or rusty object 

• Caused by a human or animal bite 

• Deeper than a ½ inch

• Embedded with dirt, gravel or stones 

• Longer than a ½ inch 

• Painful 

• Ragged with separated edges 

• Showing signs of infection (warm to touch, redness, swelling or draining) 

If you have numbness around the laceration or an inability to move the nearby joint, urgent medical attention is needed to rule out injury to nerves, tendons or a broken bone. Our experienced team will quickly evaluate your injury and determine the best course of treatment. 

Hand and wrist laceration treatment 

If your cut is bleeding heavily, put direct pressure on it with a clean cloth for 5 to 10 minutes without stopping. If the blood soaks through the cloth, do not remove the original cloth; instead, put an additional cloth on top using continuous pressure.

Additional laceration treatments at The Christ Hospital Health Network may include: 

• Antibiotics—medicine for infection.

• Antiseptic—a lotion or cream application.

• Bandaging—covering for the area surrounding the laceration. 

• Cleaning the wound—with saline or water. 

• Stitches—special types of thread that hold wound edges together while they heal. 

• Surgery—if nerve or bone is damaged. 

• Tetanus shot—if you haven’t received one in last five years.  

You can rely on the expertise of our physicians to help you manage a serious laceration to your hand or wrist.

Find a hand and wrist specialist near you.

Symptoms, Treatment, Causes & Outlook

Overview

What are human bites?

Human bites are exactly what they sound like, though they are a little more dangerous than you might think. Compared with other mammals (like dogs, bears and big cats), humans don’t have the strongest bite, at 162 lbs per square inch. However, if the skin is broken, tendons and joints may be damaged. Although it’s uncommon, this scenario is most likely to occur in children who are play-fighting.

Around 250,000 human bites are reported each year, among both adults and children – 10% of children who are bitten develop an infection, resulting from bacteria found in human saliva, specifically aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Bites to the face also account for a small number of overall cases, however they’re very common among children under 10 years old. While children are most likely to suffer one of these injuries, they typically transmit less bacteria, leading to fewer infections in these instances. Men are generally more affected by human bites than women.

Are there different types of human bites?

You might be surprised to learn that, yes, there’s more than one type of human bite. There are two different, distinct types:

• Occlusion bites: These are what you generally think of when you picture a human bite, and are the most common type. They occur when someone else’s teeth sink into your skin with enough force to break through the surface of the skin.
• Clenched or closed fist bites: These can be accidental, as they occur when someone’s fist makes contact with another person’s teeth, puncturing the hand in the process. While this type of bite may not be as intentional, it typically creates more serious injuries because the knuckles get damaged. This can lead to infections in the finger’s joints, tendons and/or bones, along with tendinitis and joint stiffness.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of a human bite?

It’s likely that you will experience pain and tenderness wherever the injury occurred. The site of the injury may also bleed and swell up. There are certain signs that can tell you if your wound has been infected, including:

• Intense pain and swelling.
• Pus around the wound.
• If the wound feels warm to touch (if it’s hot, the wound is likely infected).
• Reddening of the skin (erythema) in the wounded area.
• A fever, chills or generally feeling unwell.

If you’ve been bitten on your finger and lose feeling in your fingertips or have trouble bending or fully straightening your finger, it’s likely a sign that you’ve damaged some tendons and/or nerves.

Management and Treatment

What should you do if you’ve been bitten – or if someone you’re with is bitten?

First, clean out the wound. This should be done with saline solution (salt water) and/or povidone iodine (an antiseptic solution) – but only if it’s been diluted to a 1% concentration. If you have access to a syringe, you should use it to wash the wound, as the pressure will help reduce the level of bacteria. You need to be very careful at this stage not to further damage the wound or the surrounding tissue. If needed, remove any loose, dead skin or foreign objects from the wound (unless you’re worried that you’ll injure yourself further).

When should you see a doctor for a human bite?

If you get bitten, especially on the hands or in a sensitive area, you should go to the doctor for an evaluation because of the high risk of infection and possible complications. Here’s what you can expect:

• Exam: The doctor will ask you about your medical history, including your history of immunizations, allergies and, if any, your medications. Then they’ll ask you about the bite itself, including how and when it happened and who bit you (and any info you may have about this person), along with other important details that will help them determine how to treat your wound.
• Cleaning: The doctor will clean out and disinfect the wound again, before assessing it for any potential nerve, ligament, tendon and/or bone damage.
• Testing: The doctor may take tissue cultures from the site of the wound to analyze for infectious organisms. If they find symptoms of joint or tendon damage, or if the wound appears to be infected, the doctor may order a blood test or imaging tests, such as X-rays.
• Treatment plan: The doctor will determine which, if any, medications are best for your particular situation. They may close up the wound with non-absorbable stitches. In more severe cases, they may remove all dead tissue (debridement), followed by a skin graft to close the wound. Sometimes surgery is needed if there’s a fracture, joint/tendon damage or a severe infection.

If you or your child isn’t up to date with your vaccinations, a tetanus shot might be necessary. And any bites that puncture the skin deeper than one centimeter also require an immediate tetanus shot.

You’ll need to follow up with your doctor in 24 to 72 hours, and even quicker if you begin noticing any signs of infection.

What medications are used to treat human bites

Your doctor might prescribe medication for you, if needed. Antibiotics might be recommended for soft-tissue infections (7 to 10 days), severe infections (10 to 14 days) and severe bone/joint infections (4 to 6 weeks).

Amoxicillin (Augmentin®) is one type of antibiotic that can be used, though not for those who are allergic to penicillin. If you’re allergic to penicillin, you will likely be prescribed clindamycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethotrexate or ciprofloxacin (Cipro®). Trimethoprim/sulfamethotrexate is most commonly used with children.

Who is at a higher risk of infection following a human bite?

Your overall health and where you were bitten are factors. You’re more likely to get an infection following a bite if you:

• Have been bitten on the hand, foot, face and scalp, or on a sensitive bone/joint.
• If you are taking medications that suppress or alter your immune system.
• Have diabetes.
• Suffer from alcoholism.
• Have vascular disease.
• Are over the age of 50.

Are there complications from human bites?

The risk of infection depends on the type of wound and its location, the general medical condition of the patient and the time that elapses between when the injury occurred and when it is treated.

There can be complications if you don’t get to the ER quickly enough because the infection can spread over time. Bite wounds on the hands, upper limbs, nose and ear cartilage tend to pose more complications than those on other parts of the body. Even a seemingly minor injury can damage the underlying joints, tendons or bones, or lead to a serious infection. There are a few different signs that your human bite wound may be turning into something worse, including:

• An inability to use any part of your body.
• Redness on your body that is actively spreading.
• Drainage from the wound.
• A fever or chills.
• Generally feeling unwell.

These infections might cause permanent damage to the affected part of the body unless they’re treated quickly. For example, a closed fist bite can cause damage to the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint, sometimes leading to arthritis. In a worst-case scenario, amputation is possible. With occlusion bites, you may be at risk of developing osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, tenosynovitis and/or tendinitis.

There has been anecdotal evidence of human bites transmitting HIV and tetanus, though both are extremely rare and unlikely.

Can a human bite kill you?

Human bite wounds can be very dangerous, largely due to the many types of bacteria transmitted through human saliva. Complications from a human bite can be very serious, including severe infection and permanently damaged bones, joints and/or tendons. It’s unlikely that a human bite will be fatal, especially if you seek out proper medical care, particularly around the infection.

Outlook / Prognosis

Outlook

The recovery time from a human bite varies greatly depending on a couple different factors:

• The type, location and severity of the bite.
• The resulting damage and potential infections.
• Any underlying medication conditions.

Even after you’re initially treated, you should closely monitor the wound area to watch for signs of infection. Severe bites may have lasting effects, ranging from long-lasting effects to scarring. Remember, it’s important to see your doctor if you’re dealing with a human bite, to minimize any complications.

90,000 Tongue piercing, how to properly care after a puncture: basic principles of care.

Tongue piercings come with a certain risk, but good care significantly reduces the risk of complications. Millions of bacteria live in the mouth that can potentially cause infection at the puncture site, under the jewelry. Proper post-piercing care includes the use of disinfectant solutions and careful handling of the piercing site.

Tongue after piercing

To prevent wound infection, use an antiseptic solution.It can be made at home or bought ready-made and is sold over the counter. Rinse your mouth with an oral antiseptic after every meal, but no more than four to five times a day. Flush your mouth for 30-60 seconds. Another option is to dissolve a quarter teaspoon of iodine-free salt in a glass of warm water. Rinse your mouth with this solution for 10-15 seconds twice a day and you will speed up the healing process.

New dental brush

Change your toothbrush after piercing to prevent bacteria from entering the old toothbrush.A soft bristled toothbrush is best and brush gently around the puncture area.

To prevent food from falling under the jewelry, place food with your fingers directly on the chewing teeth. Remember to wash your hands with liquid antibacterial soap first.

Normal healing

The puncture site will heal up to one month, during which time you may experience pain and other symptoms that are considered normal.Swelling of the tongue usually lasts for three to five days, but it can be reduced by sucking on a clean ice cube. Bleeding and whitish discharge may occur at the puncture site. A plaque may appear on the jewelry.

Signs Infection

However, tongue piercing sometimes leads to complications. You should be alerted to the following symptoms: the tongue is swollen enough to make it difficult to breathe, you have a high fever, chills, redness, or yellow / green discharge around the wound.In this situation, see your dentist or therapist urgently. It usually takes four to six weeks for the puncture site on the tongue to heal.

Prevention complications

After tongue piercing, temporary lifestyle changes need to be made. These include abstaining from oral sex and romantic communication involving language. Avoid chewing or biting on non-food items such as pencils, chewing gum, nails, tobacco, and sunglasses.Remember that aspirin, caffeine, and alcohol increase swelling, bleeding, and pain. Avoid eating hot, spicy, salty, or sour foods that cause irritation. Do not tug at the jewelry in your mouth, do not play with it. The less you touch the wound, the faster it will heal.

Good post-piercing care reduces the risk of oral complications. Do your piercing only in an officially registered salon with a professional piercer. Be sure to see your dentist or therapist if you have any problems with your tongue piercing.

How to remove pus from a finger or toe?

• Time to read article: 1 minute

Suppuration on the fingers can be the result of an inaccurate manicure or pedicure, as well as from minor skin injuries. In a small wound on the skin, pathogenic bacteria are introduced, which cause the pathological process.

In the first days of the illness, you can help the patient with the help of folk methods.But in the event that the symptoms progress, you cannot do without the help of a surgeon. It is not worth waiting for the disease to pass by itself, as this can lead to sepsis.

Medicinal baths for the treatment of suppuration

Acute purulent inflammation of the finger is called panaritium. Treatment with folk methods is reduced to steaming a sore finger and applying various agents to it that contribute to the outflow of pus.

Laundry soap

For the bath, you need to prepare ordinary laundry soap and hot water.

• Rub the soap on a grater and dissolve a tablespoon of soap shavings in boiling water;

• The solution is cooled to a temperature of 60-70 degrees and a sore finger is immersed in it;

• The bath is done for at least 20 minutes, constantly adding hot water.

It is necessary to make soap baths at least 4 times a day.After the procedure, the finger is dried with a towel, and then Vishnevsky or Levomekol ointment is abundantly applied.

Salt solution

A strong solution of kitchen salt also contributes to the rapid release of pus. To prepare the solution, take a tablespoon with a slide of salt per liter of boiling water. A sore finger is dipped into a saline solution and steamed for about half an hour. After the procedure, the hand is dried with a cotton napkin and a cut aloe leaf is applied, which is fixed with a bandage.

Herbal decoction

You can quickly cure felon with the help of a decoction of medicinal herbs.Take one tablespoon of plantain, sage and calendula leaves and pour in a liter of water. Bring the composition to a boil and leave for 20 minutes, then steam the sore finger in the broth. After the procedure, an application with Vishnevsky’s ointment is applied to the inflamed finger.

Soda solution

Soda is characterized by an antiseptic effect, so soda baths are effective for the accumulation of pus under the nail plate. To prepare the solution, take two teaspoons of baking soda, which is dissolved in a liter of hot water.An inflamed finger must be steamed for at least 20 minutes, adding hot water if necessary.

Potassium permanganate solution

Potassium permanganate is a powerful antiseptic. When treating panaritium, you can soar a sore finger in a pink solution of potassium permanganate. To prepare a remedy, you need to take manganese crystals at the tip of a knife and dissolve them in a liter of warm water.

Before use, the solution of potassium permanganate must be drained through several layers of gauze.Undissolved crystals can cause skin burns.

Traditional methods of treating felon

There are many folk recipes that will help draw out pus during felon. Before applying any compresses, the sore finger must be steamed.

Baked onions

A medium-sized onion is baked whole in the oven, then cut in half and applied to the abscess. The bow must be fixed with a bandage; it is recommended to change the compress every 3 hours.

Baked garlic

Two large cloves of garlic are baked in the oven and mixed with finely grated laundry soap. The resulting cake is applied to the sore finger for 4 hours, then changed to a new one.

Beetroot compress

Beets are rubbed on a fine grater, the resulting gruel is applied to a bandage folded in several layers, and then applied to the abscess site. Such a compress will be especially effective after a bath with potassium permanganate or medicinal herb.

What medicines can help

At home, you can treat felon and medications. Most often, the following medications are applied to the abscess:

• Ichthyol ointment. This drug has a pronounced anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiseptic effect. The ointment must be applied to the site of inflammation with a thick layer and covered with a bandage;

• Synthomycin ointment. This drug has a destructive effect on many types of bacteria and has a mild analgesic effect;

• Levomekol. This ointment has a pronounced bactericidal and immunostimulating effect. Levomekol is effective against many pathogenic bacteria. The ointment must be applied to the damaged finger from the first day of inflammation;

• Vishnevsky ointment. The drug has a bactericidal, healing and anti-inflammatory effect. Applications with ointment are made using any porous material – bandage, cotton wool or cotton cloth.

If after treatment at home the condition has not improved, but on the contrary the finger is swollen even more, you must go to the hospital. The operation to remove pus is performed under local anesthesia, so it does not cause pain. In severe cases, the doctor can completely remove the nail plate.

This article is for informational purposes only, please consult your doctor for details!

90,000 operations, rehabilitation, recovery from rupture, trauma. Cost of the service – Central Design Bureau of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The musculoskeletal system cannot function normally without a ligament system. It is this link that is key in a full-fledged movement.Injuries in this area are common. The knee joint is especially susceptible to injury due to the peculiarities of its structure. Injuries can be accompanied by rupture or stretching cruciate ligaments and meniscus. Surgical intervention and plastic knee is the only correct solution in such a situation. This is the only way to quickly restore tissue and restore the motor function of the knee. We are talking about anterior cruciate ligament plasty .

All ACL injuries are divided into types depending on the degree of damage:

• First degree – stretching.
• Second degree – tearing of ligaments, often occurs in everyday life.
• Third degree – rupture of ligaments, more common in professional sports.

Knee ligament rupture symptoms

To make a diagnosis, an examination, X-ray is carried out. Among the external manifestations are:

• Increased pain when trying to step on the foot.
• The injury was accompanied by a click.
• The damaged area swells quickly.
• There is a hematoma or open bleeding.
• The joint acquires unusual mobility, displacement appears.

Treatment methods

After injuries of the first and second categories, a conservative approach is used. A splint, bandage is applied to the damaged joint. Wearing period – about one and a half months. If there is a hemorrhage, the clots are removed, the joint cavity is cleared of foreign inclusions. While wearing the splint, snapshots are taken periodically to monitor the situation. Second phase recovery – rehabilitation . It includes massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy procedures.

Plasty of the damaged ligament

After a rupture of , plasty of the knee ligaments is required. Ligament replacement is performed using third-party materials or using the patient’s own tissue.Artificial material is not inferior in strength to natural bonds. After arthroscopic repair, the recovery period is minimal. In the course of operation operation , the tissues are slightly damaged, tissue replacement is performed through punctures. For the operation, local anesthesia or general anesthesia is used.

Knee plastic surgery is performed using modern high-precision equipment and includes several stages:

• Skin punctures in the right places.
• Introduction of tools, cameras for transferring images to the screen.
• Examination of the condition of the joint, its cavity, the extent of damage.
• Removal of tissue, correction of the meniscus if necessary.
• Introduction of new tissues, fixation of the graft with sutures.

Plastic surgery of the knee joint leaves no scars or scars thanks to the use of modern surgical equipment .

Indications and contraindications for surgery

Autoplasty is indicated in the following cases:

• Complete rupture of the ligaments.
• Slow healing after conservative treatment.
• Ligamentose.
• After repeated injuries, which were accompanied by tears and sprains.

The benefits of this intervention include:

• Transplantation of the patient’s own tissues.
• The operation does not result in loss of joint functionality.
• The transplanted tissue cannot be rejected by the body.

Contraindications for ACL transplant include:

• Contracture of the joint, difficult access to soft tissues.
• Inflammatory, purulent processes.
• Exacerbation of severe chronic diseases that prevent anesthesia.
• Serious pathology of the cardiovascular system.
• Diseases of the respiratory and urinary tract.

What complications can there be

After the intervention, there is a risk of developing undesirable consequences. Among them:

• Contracture of the joint (can occur with improper intervention).
• Osteoarthritis, degenerative changes in the knee.
• Pain, limitation of mobility.
• Displacement or detachment of the transplanted tissue.
• Material rejection – extremely rare.
• Allergic reaction to anesthesia.

Full recovery takes about four months. In 95 cases out of 100, the operation is successful.

Post-transaction period

The postoperative period is the most important stage on which the success of the patient’s rehabilitation largely depends. Surgery is only the first step. This is followed by postoperative treatment, which includes several stages:

1. For the first weeks (usually up to a month), the patient is in a specialized rehabilitation center and wears a plaster cast to fix the joint.During this period, physiotherapy is used, wearing an orthosis designed to protect the joint, promote its early recovery and control muscle tone.
2. After a month, the patient can begin to load the joint. This is only possible if the muscles are completely controlled and there is no edema. After another two weeks, the patient can return to his usual life.

Basic rehabilitation measures:

• Compresses.
• Massage.
• Rubbing.
• Exercises exercise therapy.
• Light walks.

The total time for graft engraftment is about three weeks. During all this time, the ligaments remain vulnerable and weak. Handling should be as careful and delicate as possible. The patient should not be kneeling, squatting sharply, jumping. Additional protection is provided by the orthosis.

Restoring leg function after transplantation requires effort and exercise.In total, full adaptation takes about a year. All this time, the patient may feel some discomfort, warmth in the intervention area, and also observe some swelling. The knee after plastic surgery will not be exactly the same as before. However, with a competent approach, it is quite possible to restore full functionality and even return to sports activities.

Where to get knee surgery done in Moscow

You can find out the cost of surgery and all related manipulations at the Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow by phone or on the website of the clinic .Recovery time, , price and the amount of intervention depend on the complexity of the situation. In any case, after recovery, the patient will be able to use the joint without pain or discomfort.

90,000 piercing the piercing healed how long

Has the piercing healed? And what does it really mean – healed? This is a fairly common question, but the answer to it is not so straightforward, and depends on the reason why you are asking it …

The healing process of a puncture includes many indicators.The factors described below are our attempt to summarize the signs that will help YOU to understand whether the puncture has healed in your particular case.

1. When the piercing does not hurt and does not disturb sometimes months), depending on the puncture site. If your new puncture “hurts” perceptibly most of the time, there is something wrong with it, it should not be so.It might be worth visiting your piercer to have a look at the piercing. Over time, the piercing should become less and less sensitive, and at some point you should realize that you do not feel it as some kind of foreign object.

2. When can the jewelry be replaced

The general recommendation is not to change the piercing jewelry for three months after the piercing. This makes it possible for the puncture to form a tunnel of healed tissue (fistula), which will serve as the foundation for subsequent healing.An exception to this rule is oral piercing, when the length of the bar must be shortened at a certain point, or in the case when the wrong (in size) jewelry was originally used and it needs to be replaced with the correct one. It is worth noting that every time an externally threaded piece of jewelry passes through the puncture (the thread itself), the fistula collapses.

3. When the puncture looks healthy and beautiful

Most punctures look great from the start.

Slight redness is often present, but should subside in a few days or weeks. You may notice a crust that forms as you enter and exit the puncture. This is a layering and drying discharge from the puncture, which is a byproduct of the healing process. It is very important to soak and wash off these secretions with clean warm water and salt BEFORE rolling the jewelry through the puncture. Never roll dry jewelry in a fresh puncture.

As a rule, the initial swelling around the puncture will disappear after a few days from the moment of the procedure, which will be very helpful with clean cold compresses.If any bumps or bumps begin to develop near the puncture, contact a piercing professional immediately.

4. When you can remove the jewelry and the puncture does not heal

This is a clear indicator of a healed piercing! A common rule of thumb is that if you want your puncture to stay free of overgrowth, wear it on a permanent basis for at least a year. A piercing piercing is considered “young” for a year after the piercing, that is, the risk of overgrowth during this period is very high. As a rule, the older the puncture, the longer it may not heal without decoration – AS A RULE.

If you think that your puncture is completely healed and you pulled out the jewelry for a long time, after which you cannot insert it back, go to the piercer as soon as possible, he will have special tools that will help to “revive” the puncture without creating a new one. …

If you are planning a trip to an event where you need to hide the piercing, buy a retailer who will allow the piercing not to heal, but at the same time hide it.Retainers, by the way, can come in handy during various medical and cosmetic procedures.

5. When you can swim in the sea, open reservoirs and visit the pool

If the new puncture feels and looks okay, then it is on the way to healing. The biggest problem with bathing is that bacteria can get into an unhealed puncture. The fresher the puncture, the higher the chance of infection, it is especially risky to swim in the first two to three weeks. The risk of infection is even higher when visiting public pools, saunas, baths, spas, swimming in rivers and lakes. The safest place to swim is the clear sea or ocean where surfers hang out, that is, with big waves – there the water is constantly in motion, which can even help heal the puncture.

If you are in doubt as to whether the puncture has healed, it is worth protecting the puncture site while bathing with a waterproof plug, cap or special plaster, and be sure to treat the puncture after bathing.

6. When can you train

There are no excuses here. Most often, you can train as usual, of course, taking into account common sense. If any movements cause discomfort and pain to the puncture, it is worth abandoning them until good healing. If clothing comes in contact with the puncture, wear natural materials and rinse the puncture after training.

7. When to have sex

Leave safer sex aside and focus on piercings. The risk that you can catch a sexually transmitted infection when you have an unhealed piercing – is very high . As with swimming, an open wound (and an unhealed puncture is an open wound) is a direct passageway for bacteria on their way to your body. This applies to all types of piercings, not just genital piercings. Do not allow foreign body fluids to enter your puncture until it has completely healed.

Condoms and special dental pads (also called rubber dams) are an adequate method of puncture protection when used with water-based lubricants.Typically, quality condoms are strong enough to prevent the condom from ruptured by rubbing against the jewelry. It is worth applying a small amount of water-based lubricant to the jewelry before putting on the condom to prevent it from clinging to the jewelry.

Whether you practice safe or unsafe sex, the same rules apply in any case – choose positions in which you can control pressure and impact on the puncture, and monitor your feelings. As soon as discomfort or pain occurs, change position, or put it off until next time. As a rule, our body always gives us signals about how it reacts to a particular action, it is important to listen. Depending on the location of the piercing, it is strongly recommended that you have gentle sex with a fresh piercing, and if problems arise, contact your piercer.

8. When the puncture is not susceptible to infection and inflammation

Always treat your puncture with care and limit the potential access of bacteria, especially when the puncture is slightly inflamed after being snagged or injured.When you are sick, it often happens that this is reflected in the condition of your puncture – you should not panic. Our body is a whole body, and body punctures are part of it, so punctures can bother you when you are sick, tired, stressed, sleeping or eating poorly. Baths of clean, warm, salted water will help improve the condition of the puncture in such situations.

9. When the puncture can be stretched

The longer you are willing to wait before stretching your puncture, the easier it will be to go through.Most types of healed body punctures (with the exception of cartilage punctures) can technically be stretched to one gage (American measure, approximately 7.35mm) after three months. It is highly recommended to discuss this point with your piercer, especially BEFORE you decide to stretch a fresh piercing yourself.

We hope this information will be able to answer your questions regarding the healing of pierced piercings. It is also not worth reinsuring – cleaning and soaking the puncture twice as often will not speed up the healing process twice 🙂 Using a heap of all kinds of special means, especially chemistry, will also not help, and may even make it worse.There are no stupid questions, so if in doubt, always ask a piercing professional – with such a rational and healthy approach, you can guarantee your punctures quick healing and beauty that delights you and those around you.

Bruise after analyzes: why

Usually, only a small dot at the puncture site can “tell” about taking blood. However, in some cases, the “consequences” of the procedure are difficult to miss. What could be the reason for the formation of a hematoma after taking blood? And who is most at risk of “getting” such a bruise?

1.Ignoring recommendations after taking

Leading positions in the “formation” of bruises after analyzes are taken by too early extension of the arm and removal of the pressure bandage.

The fact is that the absence of a pressing factor before the formation of a full-fledged clot in the vessel leads to “leakage” of blood under the skin and the formation of a bruise.

Therefore, according to generally accepted recommendations, the bandage should not be removed within 0.5-1 hours after taking it, as well as lifting weights for several hours.

2. Thinness and fragility of vessels

It may seem surprising, but this situation is not at all uncommon. And the point here is not so much in the genetic features of the structure (although this, of course, matters), as in the violation of the synthesis of collagen fibers and the permeability of the vascular wall.

In the first case, the cause may be age-related changes, estrogen deficiency, in the second, a lack of vitamins C and P (rutin).

By the way, this vitamin deficiency is usually accompanied by bleeding of the gums, frequent nosebleeds and bruising, even with minor exposure.And people with such “symptoms” are more likely than others to “get” a hematoma after taking blood.

The presence of vascular pathology, as a rule, remains unnoticed for a long time and is often a consequence of existing diseases. People with autoimmune diseases and metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus, gout and others) are at increased risk for “bruising”.

3. Blood clotting disorders

This cause of hematoma obviously requires attention and treatment.

Unpopular, but true – most coagulation factors (as well as anticoagulants) are formed in the liver. Liver dysfunction can lead to insufficient synthesis of clotting factors.

The size of the hematoma, moreover, often reaches large sizes, and the bleeding from the wound does not stop for a long time. This situation threatens the development of internal bleeding, and the most important level here is:

• INR
• prothrombin,
• APTV,
• fibrinogen,
• antithrombin III.

It is also possible to comprehensively assess blood coagulation using the “Coagulogram. Extended “, which allows, in addition to the risk of bleeding, to assess the risk of thrombus formation.

A slight “bruising” can lead to a decrease in platelets.

These cells are not associated with liver health, but they are sensitive to many drugs (for example, “gastric” ranitidine, or antiepitheptic carbamazepine), as well as various infections (Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis C and others).

A decrease in the indicator below 50 x 10 ⁹ is considered a threat of bleeding, and a “regular” general blood test allows you to check the level of platelets.

Thus, the appearance of a large bruise after taking blood is not at all a variant of the norm and requires attention to exclude serious diseases if this situation repeats.

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How to get rid of felon of a finger (nail eater) at home

A few simple procedures will help prevent an abscess from becoming a surgical site.

Panaritium translated from Latin means “nail eater”. It can appear suddenly. You would not even notice if it were not for the abscess at the puncture site, but due to the sharp throbbing pain, the finger cannot bend. The reasons for the appearance of panaritium are the simplest: an inaccurately removed burr, a puncture of the soft tissue of a finger with a fish bone or a needle. Many do not pay attention to this, thinking that it will pass by itself. But if everything is left to chance, then an appointment with a surgeon is definitely guaranteed to you.

Grandma’s recipes

Our grandmothers used regular baking soda in these cases. A strong hot solution was prepared at the rate of a tablespoon of powder per half liter of water and forced to dip a finger into it. The procedure was not pleasant, but after several sessions everything went away. The fact is that soda has excellent antiseptic properties. Soda solution has always been used to disinfect baby dishes, including milk bottles.

But baking soda isn’t the only remedy that can help with felon. A warm potassium permanganate bath is also effective against wounds. Destroy microbes and disinfect the wound with a decoction of chamomile, calendula, celandine. The sore finger is kept in a warm solution for about 10-15 minutes. Then wipe dry, you can spread it with ointment or gel from the pharmacy. The procedure is best done 3-4 times a day.

Rescue compresses

In the fight against panaritium, warm compresses help well.They are also changed several times a day.

For compresses, you can use ordinary onions baked in the oven. Its pulp is applied to the sore spot and fixed with a bandage. You need to change the compress after 1.5-2 hours. You can leave it overnight.

From folk remedies, the cabbage leaf is also effective. It must be doused with boiling water and applied to the abscess. Aloe leaf, cut lengthwise, also works.

Laundry soap grated on a grater will help to deal with panaritium, to which 1-2 tbsp is added.tablespoons of cream. Finely chopped onion is also added there. Cook in a water bath for 10 minutes, until thickened. The gruel is applied to the sore spot. The cooled mass is used as an ointment.

A purulent abscess breaks out and relief comes.

Earlier, “Kubanskie Novosti” wrote about how to get rid of edema on the legs with the help of folk remedies.

Face after mechanical cleaning, contraindications for ultrasonic cleaning of combination skin of the face

Facial care begins with cleansing the skin.You need to regularly wash or wipe it with tonic, remove makeup every evening, periodically do peeling and cleansing masks. But even careful regular care does not deeply cleanse the pores. Dust gets into them, mixes with skin secretions and clogs them. With combination to oily skin, clogged pores are often inflamed and acne-prone. If there are no inflammatory processes, black spots are visible on the face. With dry skin, the clogging of the pores is hardly noticeable, but the supply of oxygen to the deep layers of the dermis decreases, and the complexion worsens.To completely remove all impurities, to cleanse the pores, you need to regularly cleanse your beautician. In the “VOSK” beauty salons in Moscow, soft and painless ultrasonic cleaning is performed, but sometimes cosmetologists recommend a mechanical method or a combined procedure. It provides deeper cleansing than ultrasonic treatment.

About the procedure

Mechanical (manual, manual) or combined, with the application of peeling, cleaning is used for deep cleansing of the epidermis.It is recommended for acne, black or white sebaceous plugs that clog the pores. To remove them, mechanical action is carried out on the skin with hands or with a specialized instrument – a Uno spoon.

Carrying out cleaning causes unpleasant painful sensations and injures the skin. To minimize them, you need to choose a beautician with experience and “light hands”. Attempts to squeeze out the sebaceous plugs on their own increase the risk of infection, provoke the development of the inflammatory process: there are more lesions and they heal longer.

You can also sign up for a combined or manual cleaning for rashes, blackheads in the décolleté, on the shoulders and on the back.

Advantages

Mechanical cleaning of leather was carried out in ancient Greece. And today, thousands of women in different countries come to cosmetologists for this procedure every day, preferring it over the hardware room, despite the innovative ultrasound equipment in salons, peels, masks and creams.

Advantages of manual cleaning:

1. liberation of the sebaceous ducts to the very base – ultrasound cleansing does not give such an effect;
2. Improving blood circulation and oxygen supply to cells contributes to the healing of the dermis, leveling the relief, increasing tone and reducing the number of wrinkles;
3. Normalization of the sebaceous glands, uniform distribution of sebum with combined skin type;
4. the cost of manual cleaning is lower than ultrasonic – no specialized devices are required to perform it.

Disadvantages

Mechanical cleaning has several disadvantages:

1. the procedure cannot be classified as relaxation – squeezing out the sebaceous plugs causes unpleasant sensations;
2. Injury to the epidermis – the formation of microtraumas, the appearance of redness is inevitable;
3. possible allergic reactions to the drugs used, the substances contained in the masks – the risk of allergic manifestations increases when the combined procedure is performed;
4. The recovery period lasts from 2-3 days to a week.

Unpleasant moments when using the mechanical method of cleaning pores cannot be avoided. But the degree of their severity depends on the qualifications of the cosmetologist, the threshold of pain sensitivity. After a correctly performed procedure, the redness, the damage disappears quickly, scars are not formed, pronounced swelling, and the appearance is noticeably improved.

Indications

The manual method of cleaning the epidermis is recommended to be used less frequently than ultrasonic.But in case of problem skin, it is better to come to a procedure that will not hide the defects for several days, but will improve the condition, normalize the secretion of sebum and the supply of oxygen to cells.

Manual cleaning recommended:

1. for combination or oily skin type, even in the absence of rashes;
2. for acne, acne, pimples;
3. for an unhealthy complexion;
4. with wen and milia;
5. for clogged pores – sebaceous plugs can be black or white;
6. with a decrease in the elasticity of the dermis.

The mechanical method is most effective in the fight against teenage rashes. During puberty, a girl or boy needs to be registered with a beautician to get advice on skin care and to start cleaning it in a timely manner, before acne appears.

Contraindications

Manipulations involving mechanical action on the skin of the face are undesirable for certain diseases and at certain times. Before the procedure, the cosmetologist asks if there are any contraindications to cleaning.They can be absolute or relative. Absolute applies:

1. pregnancy at any time;
2. bronchial asthma;
3. diseases of the circulatory system;
4. eczema;
5. dermatitis;
6. increased fragility of blood vessels – the beautician will advise other methods of cleaning;
7. dry, flaky skin – it is well cleaned by ultrasonic waves;
8. boils.

Relative contraindications include high blood pressure – it can be stabilized by taking medications and measured before the procedure.It is not recommended to sign up for cleaning during your period. With a low pain threshold, the decision is made by the woman independently, having previously discussed with the beautician the possibilities of other procedures.

Procedure

To reduce the pain of the procedure, trauma to the skin, reduce the risk of infection, mechanical cleansing of the face is carried out in several stages:

1. Make-up removal, face, neck, décolleté cleansing with tonic and thorough disinfection;
2. if a combined type of procedure is performed, a light surface peeling with a low concentration of acid is applied to the face;
3. steaming – softens the surface hardened layer of the dermis, facilitates the easy removal of dead cells;
4. mechanical pore cleansing;
5. skin disinfection;
6. Application of a mask that soothes the skin and tightens pores.

It is not recommended to overcool the face after the procedure. If cleaning is done in winter, in severe frost, you need to stay warm for another 20-30 minutes.

Preparation

Before the procedure, the beautician disinfects the instruments, takes out a sterile napkin. The master puts on sterile latex gloves. But in some women, contact with latex provokes allergic reactions. Tell the beautician before the procedure. Mechanical cleaning can be done without gloves.But you need to disinfect your hands well.

Before visiting the salon, no special preparation is required for cleaning, carried out by a mechanical or ultrasonic method. It is not necessary to remove makeup if a woman feels uncomfortable without it. The master in the salon will do this in a few minutes. There is no point in preliminary home steaming of the skin. This should be done immediately before mechanical cleaning, immediately after disinfection.

Steaming

After removing make-up and disinfecting, applying peeling with a combined cleaning method, the top layer of the dermis must be steamed.This step takes a few minutes if wet steam is used, and about 10-15 minutes if hot-melt gel is applied. The thermal warming gel prevents excessive fluid loss.

But with dilated vessels on the face, their close location, with dry thin or sensitive skin with rosacea, cold hydrogenation is used to loosen the upper layer of the dermis and remove dead cells. The gel does not raise the temperature on the surface of the epidermis, but saturates the cells with moisture. They swell, increase in volume, and intercellular connections weaken.The gel is applied for 20-25 minutes. The duration of the mechanical procedure is slightly increased, and the injury rate is reduced. After steaming, it is advisable to make brossage – mechanical treatment with a rotating brush.

Skin cleansing

A prepared face the cosmetologist treats with 3% hydrogen peroxide or other disinfectant and cleans the pores with a Uno spoon. It is applied so that the hole is above the black point, and slightly pressed down. In some areas of the face, it is more convenient to remove the sebaceous plugs, slightly pressing down with your fingers, through a sterile napkin.Cleansed skin areas are immediately treated with hydrogen peroxide or disinfectant lotion.

A Vidal needle is used to remove deep-seated comedones and pimples. The skin near the comedone is slightly stretched and a superficial puncture is made, through which the sebaceous plug and pus are removed. Such defects of the dermis can be removed only by a mechanical method, ultrasonic radiation does not penetrate deeply clogged pores.

After cleansing the face of comedones, the beautician treats the skin with the other end of the Uno spoon.

Final step

After completion of mechanical manipulations and disinfection, a mask is applied to the face. The beautician selects its composition for each woman, taking into account the type and condition of the skin. Its composition in normal, combined, oily and dry types is significantly different. The main purpose of the mask is to remove unpleasant sensations, relieve inflammation. But it can also contain whitening ingredients that make dark spots on the face less noticeable, and substances that help narrow the pores.

The masks used after cleaning include cosmetic clay, starch, herbal extracts, oils. They consolidate the effect of the procedure, improve the complexion, increase the firmness and elasticity of the epidermis.

How often should I clean my face?

The need for mechanical pore cleaning depends on the type of skin:

1. dry – according to indications, with deep blockage of pores, it is performed no more often than once every three months, necessarily alternates with ultrasonic procedures;
2. normal – it is recommended to do the procedure every 2 months, but periodically the mechanical one can be replaced with an ultrasonic one;
3. combined – depends on the condition of the skin, the degree of expansion and contamination of the pores, you need to regularly visit a beautician in order to do the procedure on time;
4. oily – monthly cleaning is recommended, it is important not to allow clogging of pores and the development of inflammatory processes, the appearance of acne, periodically it can be supplemented with ultrasound.

Care after cleaning

In order for the face to heal faster after mechanical cleaning, a number of restrictions must be observed:

1. do not visit the bath, sauna or solarium for a week after cleaning;
2. do not drink alcohol, do not smoke or reduce the number of cigarettes smoked as much as possible;
3. before going outside in sunny weather, be sure to apply sunscreen on your face;
4. Do not use hot water, soap, alcohol-containing preparations, scrubs and peels when washing your face, wash your face with mineral water at room temperature with cleansing cosmetics for sensitive skin;
5. drink more liquid so that the cells receive enough of it for intensive regeneration;
6. Apply moisturizer;
7. treat damage with an antiseptic;
8. Do not use foundation and other decorative cosmetics for 2-3 days.

Potential complications

Not only ultrasonic, but also manual cleaning of the skin must be done in the salon by making an appointment with a qualified cosmetologist.