DIY Health Care

[CaptainAnarchy]

Is this the place to post this? Figured we could share you DIY health care techniques for people like myself who have zero insurance whatsoever.

I'll go first.

DIY Healing of infected cut/scrape/nail/etc

I work with my hands a lot, so I go through a lot of issues with them from time to time. My latest was an ingrown fingernail. For those unaware, it happens when your nail decides to grow backward or even sideways into your skin. I cracked a nail on something at work, and it started to grown in sideways. I didn't notice until it was red and super painful. Now comes the work.

1. Apply pressure on the finger from all angles. Does your finger turn fire red if there's pressure? If so, that's inflammation and most likely an infection of some kind.

2. Get a needle and sterilize it in hydrogen peroxide for at least 30 seconds.

3. Now, we're going to lance it. For those unaware, lancing involves using a sterile needle to poke through the skin and drain pus.

4. Once lanced, squeeze the finger to drain all puss out of the wound. Usually, this will be a white/cloudy color. Your finger should feel better immediately. Any other color (green for example) can't be treated w/o the use of antibiotics.

5. After, soak your hand in a warm sea-salt soak for 15 minutes and do this 3 times a day. Coat your finger with some neosporin and wrap it in a band-aid. Swap the band-aid each time you do your soak.

That's it. My mother and sister are both RN's, so this is the procedure that's done at a hospital, except they charge you a ridiculous fee.

Any other tips?

[strange.famous]

nails grow inwards as well? FUCK THAT SHIT. hope that never happens to me :/
I'd suggest people who follow this also youtube the same, a video is always better.

[CaptainAnarchy]

Yes, but it's usually after trauma to a nail. Of course, "trauma" can be something simple like biting your nails too much as well.

However, I agree. If you're unfamiliar with lancing, google for a video and watch. Don't ever under any circumstance use a needle that isn't sterilized. The keyword is "needle" as well and not "anything sharp." No pocket knives or shit like that.

[Rev]

Yeah this has happened to me as well lol
and yes i dont gots insurance either too expensive..

[cleef]

Despite what peiople may say about the NHS when i see stuff like this damn do i feel lucky!!

Only one that comes to mind is to drink flat coke when you have a bad stomach, it helps replace the sugars that are lost when you are sick and the caffeine gives you energy