infected burn

[hairyben]

apparently this burn form a few days ago is infected

I've been putting savlon on it but apparently this is no good.

Getting a lot of contradicting advice here and gf is insisting I go to a doc. Personally I've got better things to do than spend half a day sat in a waiting room catching diseases only to be fobbed off by some quack.

any ideas? is savlon really no good? whats best? will dousing it in dettol help?

[Mr Gearchange]

I'm no doctor but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it - apart from the burn itself.
If it was infected it would look a lot worse.

If you are bothered pour some neat TCP on it and dress with a sterile bandage.

Personally I'd leave it uncovered and occassionally pour some dettol on it and scrub it with a yard brush

[ShadownINja]

Does the pain "throb"? That's apparently a sign of infection.

Wash it regularly with saline solution - get a jug of hot water, dump loads of salt in it, get some gauze or clean kitchen towel (paper that won't break up when wet) or even a clean flannel and dab warm salt water on wound. I've had wounds get infected (due to laziness attending to wound) and done similar to reverse the infection.

Don't use kitchen towel roll that someone's grabbed after handling food as bacteria could have spread and you'll just stuff it in your burn. (Most people have a very crap appreciation of hygiene.)

Edited by ShadownINja on Monday 19th April 12:28

[Oscarmac]

From the picture it doesn't look to be infected. You haven't been doing to bad with your routine so far. Contrary to much popular belief this will heal up better if covered with a sterile dressing, Although it will generally look worse if kept moist, the skin heals much better in a moist enviroment.

[dreamer75]

I burnt myself a few years ago on ropes while climbing, and the paramedics wrapped it in cling film (kept the air away from it and weirdly stopped it hurting). THe hospital then gave me similar dressings (i.e. similar to cling film) and advised keeping it covered up while it healed (as opposed to letting it dry out in the air). Apparently it helps stop the scab forming, which in turn stops the scarring and reduced movement (mine was on the palms of my hands/fingers).

It did hurt a lot less when covered up, and healed fine with minimal scarrin (well other than missing some of my fingerprint now which I always thought was impossible!)

Did look gruesome for a bit tho! I think you can buy burn dressings in Boots which are similar.

[maddog993]

Savlon's crap. As a general rule putting any old over-the-counter st on a burn is a bad idea. If you've left it open without a dressing, it's no surprise it's become infected.
If it is infected, it needs sorting properly.
Go see Practice Nurse at your GP practice who will assess it, clean it, dress and medicate it properly and, if it's a serious enough infection to warrant it, apply antibiotic cream + the dressing.

If you get it seen to properly, a superficial/partial thickness burn should heal effectively and relatively rapidly. If you bugger about with it you'll allow the infection to get worse and compromise the healing.

[hairyben]

Thanks folks. picked up some TCP and some band-aid-strip.

Asked two pharmacists who were not much help- whatever happened to them giving usefull advice? compo culture?

I didn't think it was infected either but hey.

[blindswelledrat]

HB- top tip here.
Use a marker or biro and draw a line around that red bit.
When you look tomorrow- if the red bit has spread further than the biro then it is infected and getting worse and you'll need to see a doc.
If the red bit has shrunk then it is getting better on its own.

[Lucie W]

It doesn't *look* infected (I'm no doctor though). I had a burn which became infected and I think you just know that it isn't right. Very red and angry looking and usually painful.

Seeing a doctor to get it checked out doesn't necessarily mean waiting 'half a day'...get as early an appointment as you can and you shouldn't have to wait too long. Best to be on the safe side if you're worried about it.

Also I wouldn't bother with creams etc...not good for open wounds (good for once it's healed to reduce scarring and to stretch the skin out).

[SPR2]

I can highly recommend 'Jelonet' a paraffin guauze(sp) dressing specifically for burns.You should also be able to get burn plasters.Neither of these leave any scars.Only last week I burnt/scalded my hand removing clingfilm from something out of the microwave.It has now healed and dried up nicely by using these items.
Burn plasters I got from Morrisons but Jelonet from a chemist.