My finger is swollen and painful after pulling out the thorn

Many people have hangnails on their hands, but most people will pull out the hangnails themselves after they grow them. If the hangnails are not pulled out, it will affect daily life and make people feel uncomfortable. Some people will experience swelling and pain in their fingers after the hangnails are pulled out. If the hangnails are pulled out, the swelling and pain in the fingers will seriously affect normal life and the swelling needs to be reduced in time.

What should I do if my finger is swollen and painful after removing a hangnail?

Step 1: Hot compress or hot water soak

Hot compress can relax muscles, dilate blood vessels, and promote blood circulation in the fingers. Therefore, it has the effects of anti-inflammation, swelling, relieving pain, reducing deep tissue congestion, maintaining body temperature, and increasing human comfort. In addition, soaking the fingers in warm water has the same effect.

1. Hot compress method

(1) Soak a towel in hot water, wring it until it is half dry, and then fold it.

(2) Use your hand to measure the temperature of the towel and make sure it is not too hot, then apply it to the affected part of your finger.

(3) You can cover the hot towel with another towel or cotton pad to maintain the heat.

(4) Generally, change the towel every 3-5 minutes. It is best to use two towels alternately.

(5) Each hot compress should last 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day.

(6) When using heat therapy, check for changes in the local skin at any time. If redness or blistering occurs, stop using immediately.

2. Soak your hands in hot water

(1) Prepare a basin of hot water at about 40 degrees Celsius, which should not be too hot to touch but hot enough.

(2) Place your hands in a basin of water and soak for half an hour, 5-6 times a day.

Step 2: Disinfect the dressing

After taking the above methods, we must wash our hands with clean water, use nail clippers to cut off the barbs of the remaining nails or new barbs at the roots, then apply iodine or antibiotic ointment on the swollen fingers from removing the barbs, and then bandage them with gauze for a week to heal.

Step 3: Tips to reduce swelling

In addition, you can also use the commonly used folk remedies for reducing swelling in clinical Chinese medicine to reduce swelling in swollen fingers. The specific methods are as follows.

1. Wash with the prescription of potassium nitrate and licorice

Method: Use 30 grams each of potassium saltpeter and licorice, put the above materials into a cup, add 100 ml of cold boiled water, soak for 20 minutes and then filter out the juice. Take 20 ml of the juice each time and soak the affected finger for 3-5 minutes, 2-3 times a day.

Efficacy: It can clear away heat, detoxify and reduce swelling.

2. Wash with chrysanthemum and chrysanthemum

Preparation method: Use 15 grams each of dandelion and wild chrysanthemum. Add the above materials into 200 ml of water and boil until 100 ml is left. Remove from heat, remove the residue and take the juice, pour it into a cup, wait until it is at a suitable temperature, then soak the affected finger for 30 minutes each time, 3-4 times a day.

It can treat the redness, swelling and pain of fingers caused by pulling out hangnails.

3. Apply aloe vera externally

Method: Choose fresh aloe vera leaves, roast them until soft, split them open, and put them on the affected fingers. Or use a piece of aloe vera leaf, soften it over sugar fire, then scrape its mucus and apply it thickly on the affected fingers, 3 times a day.

Efficacy: It can improve the redness, swelling and pain caused by pulling out hangnails on fingers.

4. Cactus external application

Preparation method: Take 15 to 20 grams of fresh cactus and appropriate amount of gauze and medical tape. After removing the thorns and washing the cactus, mash it directly. Cut gauze according to the size of the affected area (it is best to use 2 to 3 layers), spread the gauze flat, pour the mashed cactus on the gauze, and spread it flat and apply it to the swollen and painful fingers. Fix it with medical tape and change it 2 to 3 times a day.

Efficacy: clears away heat and detoxifies, promotes qi and blood circulation, reduces swelling and relieves pain. Suitable for red and swollen fingers.

Step 4: If the condition is serious, you need to see a doctor to drain the pus or remove the nail

Due to the act of pulling out the hangnail after the nail is removed, the nail groove skin will be red, swollen and tender in the early stage, but it may gradually develop into a subepidermal abscess in the later stage, and even invade under the nail to form a subungual abscess. At this time, you need to seek medical attention in time and perform appropriate operations and treatments, such as:

1. Subcutaneous abscess requires medication

When a subcutaneous abscess forms, cut off the epidermis of the abscess, then apply anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and detumescent drugs, and then bandage the finger with gauze.

2. Subungual abscess requires nail removal

When a subungual abscess is formed, a nail removal surgery is required to drain the pus. When removing the nail, care should be taken to avoid damaging the nail bed to prevent deformities of the new nail in the future.