Signs a wound is infected — and what to do
Some redness is normal healing. These are the changes that mean stop treating it at home.
A healing wound is mildly red at the edges, slightly tender, and may weep a small amount of clear or straw-coloured fluid in the first day or two. That is the normal inflammatory phase. Infection looks different, and it usually gets worse rather than better over 24 to 48 hours.
Warning signs
- Spreading redness, particularly redness moving outward from the wound or tracking in a line up the limb.
- Increasing pain after day two, when it should be easing.
- Heat and swelling that build rather than settle.
- Pus — thick, cloudy, yellow, green or foul-smelling discharge.
- Fever, chills or feeling generally unwell.
- The wound stops progressing or starts to look worse than it did.
What to do
Stop self-treating and see a pharmacist or GP. Do not pack the wound, do not apply antiseptic in an attempt to sterilise it, and do not leave it covered and hope. If you see red streaks tracking up the limb, or you feel unwell with a fever, treat it as urgent.
Higher-risk situations
Get advice earlier if you have diabetes, poor circulation, a weakened immune system, or if the wound was caused by a bite, a puncture, or anything dirty or rusty. Tetanus cover is worth checking after any dirty wound.
See a pharmacist, GP or urgent care if a wound will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, is deep or gaping, was caused by something dirty or rusty, contains anything you cannot flush out, or shows spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever. Get help urgently for animal or human bites, wounds over a joint, and any wound in someone with diabetes or poor circulation.
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FitMedix products are CE-marked medical devices intended for the care of minor wounds. This site does not provide medical advice — seek professional help for deep, dirty or non-healing wounds, or if signs of infection appear. Always read the instructions on the pack.