so i burned my leg like a week ago and i've just been putting neosporin and stuff on it, but it seems like it is getting worse. it recently turned a yellowish color and started to have some yellow fluid come out of it, which dries and gets all crusty. i tried googling around and stuff but i couldn't really get any definite advice on what to do as i think it is infected. any help would be appreciated, and i would prefer to not to have to go to the doctor ;]

here is a picture from yesterday, it has turned a little whiter since i took this picture.

+ Show Spoiler [kinda gross] +

edit: oh yeah and my ankle has been swelling up some and turning kinda of red, i think some fluid is building up there and it is kinda painful to walk on sometimes.

Sharp-eYe

Canada642 Posts

October 17 2009 02:03 GMT

looks more like your skin got burnt right off, making it more of a wound than a burn.

Chromyne

Canada561 Posts

October 17 2009 02:09 GMT

IMO go to the doctor if you don't know what's going on and how to treat it.

McFly

United States116 Posts

October 17 2009 02:19 GMT

I'm not a doctor nor have any knowledge of burns, but I have experience with cuts/burns of my own a lot. That being said I will tell you what I do.
First, I would dissenfect the hell out of the wound with alcoholic swabs and stuff and then I would put stuff like hydrocortisone with aloe on it to progress healing and stop the pain.

Second, keep the wound away from water I've noticed if you put water on it it slows down the healing process and makes it look all gumpy and shit.

Last, I think i've had yellow gump come out of wounds and stuff... I thought it was a natural way of your body to "make the crust" to stop shit from getting into it while it heals.

About your ankle swelling and stuff I would have no idea if thats wound related or what.

Kwidowmaker

Canada978 Posts

October 17 2009 02:24 GMT

What did you do?

Go see a doctor

IntoTheWow

is awesome32282 Posts

October 17 2009 02:25 GMT

Doctor.

Azrael1111

United States550 Posts

October 17 2009 02:25 GMT

That yellow pus stuff is normal, I get that on any large area wound like that.

Divinek

Canada4045 Posts

October 17 2009 02:27 GMT

On October 17 2009 10:59 Nitrogen wrote:
so i burned my leg like a week ago and i've just been putting neosporin and stuff on it, but it seems like it is getting worse. it recently turned a yellowish color and started to have some yellow fluid come out of it, which dries and gets all crusty. i tried googling around and stuff but i couldn't really get any definite advice on what to do as i think it is infected. any help would be appreciated, and i would prefer to not to have to go to the doctor ;]

here is a picture from yesterday, it has turned a little whiter since i took this picture.

+ Show Spoiler [kinda gross] +

edit: oh yeah and my ankle has been swelling up some and turning kinda of red, i think some fluid is building up there and it is kinda painful to walk on sometimes.

jesus christ that could be serious, please go to a doctor

DrTJEckleburg

United States1080 Posts

October 17 2009 02:31 GMT

As far as I know, yellow color is a sign of healing as opposed to infection or worsening conditions.

But I'd see a doctor anyway, especially after that last edit of yours, hehe...

iNcontroL

USA29055 Posts

October 17 2009 02:38 GMT

#10

yeah go to a doctor he might be able to save the leg or at least remove it before the infection spreads

micronesia

United States24814 Posts

October 17 2009 02:46 GMT

#11

Why do you want to avoid the doctor? To what lengths are you willing to go? This is already getting pretty serious it looks like... not sure I'd gamble like you are doing.

FirstProbe

1206 Posts

October 17 2009 02:53 GMT

#12

On October 17 2009 11:19 McFly wrote:
I'm not a doctor nor have any knowledge of burns, but I have experience with cuts/burns of my own a lot. That being said I will tell you what I do.
First, I would dissenfect the hell out of the wound with alcoholic swabs and stuff and then I would put stuff like hydrocortisone with aloe on it to progress healing and stop the pain.

Second, keep the wound away from water I've noticed if you put water on it it slows down the healing process and makes it look all gumpy and shit.

Last, I think i've had yellow gump come out of wounds and stuff... I thought it was a natural way of your body to "make the crust" to stop shit from getting into it while it heals.

About your ankle swelling and stuff I would have no idea if thats wound related or what.

You'd put hydrocortisone on a wound he's worried is infected? And you'd also use alcoholic swabs?
:s

Anyway to the op - go see a doctor. Can't really tell by the photos. Somewhat concerning is some erythema which appears to be extending ?distally vs proximally - especially if its overlying a joint like the ankle. (infection can seed into the joint, and destroy cartilage very very fast). The burns themselves are very superficial - though the skin which usually acts as a protective barrier is broken = potential entry point for infection.

Ingenol

United States1328 Posts

October 17 2009 02:57 GMT

#13

If there is one thing you don't want to mess around with in terms of not going to a doctor, it's a potential infection. We all feel your pain in terms of the massive hassle that our bloated and red tape clogged healthcare system will cause with respect to actually getting to see one, but every day matters in this case.

Headlines

United States482 Posts

October 17 2009 02:58 GMT

#14

The white layer is just eschar, or dead dermis. Before that, the yellow liquid is the stuff your skin would normally hold in. Just be on the lookout if the wound gets more bloody, or if it develops a weird smell. That could indicate a major bacterial infection. Stop using neosporin too. Neosporin is a petroleum based gel that prevents further skin cells to grow therefore, it's actually delaying your wound to heal. For minor cuts and wounds, neospirin is good, but not for a deep wound like what you have. Try using Silvadene, or a less milder medication that contains bacitricin.

As for the ankle swelling...I would suggest taking some anti-inflammatory medication. If the swelling hasn't reduced, then you may have a possible infection.

I'm not a doctor or have any knowledge in medicine other than what I've learned through others. Use your best judgment. If you think the wound and the swelling is getting worse, then go see a doctor. Don't go when the wounds are just intolerable to bear, it may be too late then.

theron[wdt]

United States395 Posts

October 17 2009 03:04 GMT

#15

doctor

RLTY

United States965 Posts

October 17 2009 03:09 GMT

#16

Go the the doctor.

United States6173 Posts

October 17 2009 03:49 GMT

#17

Swabbing a wound like that with alcoholic swabs is going to burn like a mother. Also if he's having problems down to his ankle, treating the wound won't help the infection. He's gonna need antibiotics if it gets worse.

Don't use alcohol, use hydrogen peroxide to clean/disinfect the wound now and then (though it'll interfere with the healing process, so not too often). Use saline to clean it regularly and get the gunk off, and keep it wrapped up in gauze. You'll only irritate the wound further with alcohol. -_-;;

Water won't harm him unless he puts it in some dank and swampy shit. It'll look gumpy just because his skin will be absorbing water...just like when your fingers get pruny. -_-.

OP...Go see a doctor.

EDIT
~~Or at least go see your school nurse.~~

EDIT
BTW...if there's pus coming out, that means there's an infection.

EDIT
Yellow pus means that white blood cells came and died in that area. That means your body is fighting off an infection. Since it hasn't been getting better, go see a doctor. Actually...go see a doctor anyway. Pus isn't there to scab...blood is.

EDIT again...
On second thought, GO SEE A FUCKING DOCTOR.

paper

13197 Posts

October 17 2009 04:29 GMT

#18

i'm a doctor.

i'm prescribing MORE HON.

Loanshark

China3094 Posts

October 17 2009 04:44 GMT

#19

Try some classic TL fix-it-yourself surgery.

Then blog more with pics.

Zapdos_Smithh

Canada2620 Posts

October 17 2009 04:50 GMT

#20

It really doesn't look that bad. The white stuff doesn't look like pus, just looks like the skin is burned. People here I believe are confusing pus with the clear/yellow fluid that comes out to help form the scar. I've done First-Aid/CPR-C and I've done 2 years of human bio courses so while I'm not a doctor, I semi know what I am talking about.

I would just leave it for a couple days (no neosporin or anything). Let it heal and scar over. If in 2 days it's getting worse/not showing any improvement at all then go to a doctor. Most of the time in these scenarios, the body can just heal itself.

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