Whitlow

I'm still waiting for the magnesium sulphate paste to arrive from Amazon. Usually they are so fast.
But my home treatment of regular soaking in salty water, then a bit of Germolene and cover it with a plaster seems to be working. The swelling is half of what it was a few days ago.

kittylester

Magnesium sulphate is the best thing.

I was going to say the same. Ideal for splinters too. Buy in wee pot from Boots. Ooh the relief.

I tend to get them when I am run down and take the salt water, lance (when ready) and antiseptic approach. They really are painful.

Thanks Allira
Guess it would work for boils too
Son had one on back of neck recently
He was on antibiotics and regular hot pads it did eventually pop and was really messy. Might try the magnesium paste if needed again

henetha -you could soak your whitlow in a warm basin of Epsom salts prior to applying the Magnesium Sulphate paste .
The Magnesium is dried .
Glycerine is used to make it into a paste .
Phenol is in a very tiny quantity as it's carbolic acid .
It should discharge after about eight hours .
I irrigate with half strength hydrogen peroxide then dry and add a touch of tree tea oil .
This afternoon I have to spray a lot of branches for the funeral - I'll be wearing a double mask and gloves !
My New Year resolution - to take more care of my hands .They look terrible !

Funny coincidence Esmay. This morning I ordered a box of disposable gloves... 😊

Gwyllt

Magnesium sulphate is just Epsom salts
Anyone know what it is mixed with to form a paste

Glycerol, water, phenol and purified water.

Magnesium sulphate is just Epsom salts
Anyone know what it is mixed with to form a paste

Remember to wear disposable latex gloves for when your whitlow bursts .
They are nasty things -hope that it heals quickly , henetha .
I've got more flower arranging to do for a funeral just after New Year and I'll be wearing latex gloves .
I looked at a beautiful array of manicured hands around the Christmas table and felt ashamed of mine .

PS. Just done it, ordered it from Amazon. They say it will be delivered by 3rd January, but knowing Amazon it will arrive tomorrow, or even tonight!
Thank you so much .

That's interesting Esmay. I think I might order some from Amazon.

I bought some Magnesium Sulphate paste from Boots a couple of years ago .
Now you can only buy it on Amazon .
I went into Boots just before Chrustmas and was stunned by the array of new make up available .
I feel that it's increasingly a seller of cosmetics and not a real chemist anymore .
I get my meds from an independent chemist .

I usually buy it in indepe5 pharmacies.

eddiecat78

Magnesium sulphate paste works really well on whitlows. Should be available at a pharmacy

I swear by that for lots of ailments!

Esmay

Gardening ,animals and craft work have had their toll on my hands and I've had many whitlows .
Always clean with tea tree if you experience a cut and if you develop a whitlow -apply Magnesium Sulphate paste (Boots sell it) to
draw off the infection and wear disposable latex gloves to protect the wound.
Clean again with tea tree until healed .

Boots tell me they are unable to get it. Same tale at all their branches I visited.

If you have some, guard it!

eddiecat78

Magnesium sulphate paste works really well on whitlows. Should be available at a pharmacy

We swear by that for all sorts of things.

I have been trying to buy another pot for the last six months and every single pharmacy cannot get it. No idea why.

I had one in the 60s and had to have it lanced. My thumb was about 3 times normal size but once lanced - instant relief. It’s said to be something only experienced by males in index fingers and thumbs. Something to do with bone structure in the phalanges ? Incidentally ,(and no help at all ) a whitlow is how my Mum and Dad met. She was his superior when he went into the RAF in WW2 as a raw conscript. He was taken to see her because he had a whitlow and she knew what to do. He fell in love with her , instantly, and they wed, less than a month later, staying married until he died 48 years later.

Never heard of it....

Please go to the doctor and get it lanced.
I had one as a child and Dad eventually took me to the hospital accident department.
I was lanced and took many weeks of very painful visit to have new dressings on.
I now have a huge scar on my thumb and was told that if it had been left any longer then I would have lost my thumb.

I rather like Most Sad Venture.

Sorry Missadventure (bloody predictive text)

Like most sad venture I have always lanced these with a needle carefully along side the nail and then put an Elastoplast on to keep it clean

I would be inclined to try bathing it in hot soapy water, then lancing it with a s terilised needle as already suggested.

No, it was ganglions you were advised to thump with a heavy book, but far better to consult a doctor than mess about with that on your own.

I can remember my thumb throbbing, like a Tom and Jerry cartoon!!

When I had one many years ago, the only relief I could get was by keeping my hand elevated-it stopped the throbbing pain. I had it lanced by the Gp at our local cottage hospital, sadly no longer there.