Hi. I Had A Pedicure On 4th September At The

Posted on Sun, 15 Sep 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 Answered on

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Question : Hi. I had a pedicure on 4th September at the salon in the hotel spa whilst away on holiday in Spain. Unfortunately the person undertaking the pedicure cut the skin area around my big toe area quite badly and it was bleeding. I have applied antiseptic cream and also fucidin ointment abs it has healed significantly however the cuticle area at the base of the toe nail is still quite sore and it looks a bit black where the skin is removed. Any suggestions how to heal this? Also the salon assured me that the instruments were sterilised. I am just concerned about picking up infection or risk of hiv etc. Hopefully risk is zero but I have to take their word instruments were sterilised. What are your thoughts on this risk? Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (47 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Take a course of oral antibiotic, risk is zero if instruments were sterlise

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to ask a doctor service
I have gone through your query and reviewed the attached photograph.
It seems to be slightly infected.
I would recommend you to continue with fucidin cream twice daily and take a course of oral antibiotic like tablet cephalexin 500 mg twice daily for 5 days.
This will resolve it completely.
As far as HIV infection is concerned the risk is rare less than 0.3 percent if used in an infected person.
The risk is absolutely zero if instruments were sterilized.
Don’t worry about it.
Regards
Dr Asmeet

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj