I think I have an infection in my finger. What should I do?

Possible blood infection?

• How quickly can a mild finger infection turn into a blood infection? Just about two days ago I developed a mild infection on my pinkie (I REALLY need to stop picking at my cuticles). Basically I saw a thick pink line that ran from the side of the cuticle to almost the first knuckle. Naturally when you hear "red line" you immediately think "blood infection", but this line was not so much a line as it was a long pink patch, so I didn't panic about it. Unfortunately the wound had already closed up, so I was unable to introduce any antibiotic into it. So instead I had to soak it in very hot water and then pour hydrogen peroxide onto the finger, hoping the hot water opened up the pores enough for the peroxide to sink in through the skin. Usually this works with just one or two soakings (I've had lots of finger infections) but it seems as though no matter how many times I soak my finger the infection recedes somewhat but then grows back again. I do not have a fever (although I've read that a sign of sepsis can also be LOWER than normal body temperature), and other than nervousness I feel fine. My parents looked at my finger and at first my mom thought it looked like a line, but then said that it wasn't defined enough to be a line, and that's it's too fat. My dad thinks it just might be irritated because of the amount of peroxide I've been using, but I'm still nervous. I'd rather not die of septicemia on Christmas Day, so should we go to the ER? Thanks.

• Answer:

  See your health care provider as soon as possible after christmas and good luck.