Suggest Treatment For Right Index Finger Burn With Blistered Non-healing Wound

Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2015

Question: Hello! A few days a go, I burned myself with piping hot sugar leaving me with two small blisters on the side of my right index finger. I left it to "air dry" as instructed by my mother, but due to work I had to cover it up with a blister plaster. But when I took it off, the blisters opened up with pinkish skin underneath and because I was at work I couldn't do much besides smearing it with hand sanitizer and cover it with another normal sticky plaster. I left it on for the rest of the day and now when I took it off the skin is all winkled up and ash white with no sign of healing. There is also loose skin from the blister still there, which I heard is quick at catching infections. I now have a slight tinglish feeling on my hand and finger, but nothing crazy. I'm absolutely devasted and angry at myself for beeing so foolish. I have serious angst of getting an infection and have no idea when it will heal. Please instruct me with a way to make it heal faster and a way to cover it up for when I am at work or any risks I should be worried about.

Additional note: I've been applying Savlon Antiseptic Cream on my wound since it first formed blisters. (Except when I was at work).

Thank you very much in advance.

Answered by Dr. Mukund Savaskar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Burn right index finger with blistered non-healing wound

Detailed Answer:
Hi,Good Morning from XXXXXXX
Thanks for your query to HCM at my virtual clinic.
I studied your query in all the details and understood your concerns.
Don't Get devastated.I would help you out with following treatment suggestions-
Please dress it with padded aseptic and pre-medicated dressing from your family doctor / or from the OTC.
Don't load it with savlon cream but apply only a smear of it on the wound,before you apply the wound dressing to your right index finger.
The ash white color and wrinkled skin is due to wrong dressing of blister plaster and thereafter with sticky plaster.
Keep the right index finger dry to heal it fast.
Rest and Elevate the part as far as possible to avoid any swelling in the finger and the hand.
Take Motrin -400 mgm tab x 2 time would cut short the healing to few days. Your pharmacist will know about this drug.

Hope this reply would help you to recover from this emergency in few days time.
Welcome for any further query to HCM at my Clinic.

Wishing you fast recovery.
Have a Good Day.
With Regards,
Dr.Savaskar M.N.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Mukund Savaskar (2 hours later)

Thank you very much for the answer. While waiting for your reply, I did exactly what you instructed me not to - I applied a heavy coat of Savlon and wrapped it with gauze. But I have taken it off now and I'm just letting it air dry. Since I can't make it to my nearest pharmacy in time, is there anything I can use to cover it besides the un-used but unsteralized left-over gauze? I only have that at the moment or another blister plaster, which I'm not touching again.

I now feel a dull pain on that spot and I can't fully bend my finger. Will this injury leave any affects besides the scarring? I've heard second-degree burns can end fatal, I hope this is not the case. I won't be able to see a doctor any time soon, so I hope it gets better.

I have taken the gauze off and I'm letting it air dry for now. Can I wrapped in an un-strilized gauze for the night? For that's the only thing I have.

I have included a picture for you to judge it properly.

Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Mukund Savaskar (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
First Degree-Burn right Index finger with non-healing wound

Detailed Answer:
Diagnosis- First Degree-Burn right Index finger with non-healing wound
HI,Dear,Thanks for the updates and the photograph.
In my opinion its First Degree Burn mostly and would heal in next 2-3 days time.
As you don't have access to pharmacy,You can just smear it with Savlon Cream and cover it with at least a padded / airy Gauze and dressing for a day or 2 .
Take Turmeric with milk x 2 times a day.
High protein diet would expedite the delayed healing.
As both the wounds are near by the joint lines of index fingers, rest to the part is very important for fast healing.
This would resolve your issue .
Welcome for any further query to HCM at my virtual clinic.
Write a good review if this treatment advise has helped you to recover.
Wishing you early recovery.
Have a Good Day.
Dr.Savaskar M.N.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E