Suggest Treatment For Infection On Skin

Posted on Mon, 1 Feb 2016

Question: Hello, my grandmother has applied some sort of cream called betadene onto her warts. The result is in the pictures, it seems as if her flesh has been eaten away or has died but im not sure, this is how it looks after 18 days. She seems to think its improved but im worried the damage is permanent and that her body is exposed to infection due to the skinnbeing damaged. Please can you look at the images and advise as to what this is and what she could do. Thank you

Answered by Dr. Saad Sultan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
do not apply cream and wash it with normal saline

Detailed Answer:
Welcome at HCM
I am DR XXXXXXX XXXXXXX and will be answering your query.
I have gone through your query and being your physician I completely understand your health concerns.
As far as this wart in picture is concerned , the overlying skin seems dead. I do not recommend to apply this cream any more as it exposes the underlying soft tissue and make it more prone to infection. I suggest you to please wash it with warm NORMAL SALINE so that it do not get infected.
She should at least visit her surgeon once to exclude any associated problem and proper management of any ulcer which has formed due to it can be done in time.
Meanwhile stay calm and use acetaminophen to relieve pain if she has.
Get well soon
Hope your query is adequately addressed if you still have any feel free to ask
Regards
Dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Saad Sultan (32 minutes later)

What i want to know is what she should do? Will this cover up automatically or will the dead tissue have to be removed? Will the big hole in her foot recover? I will tell her to use saline solution but the hole is quite deep so please explain what to do. Thanks

Answered by Dr. Saad Sultan (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
needs debridement of dead tissue

Detailed Answer:
Welcome at HCM
I really appreciate your followup...
Dead tissue anywhere in body needs to be removed. Sometimes it get removed only by dipping the affected area in warm saline for ten minutes two times a day. If it persists it has to be removed surgically.
She should visit her surgeon once. If I am her surgeon I will perform debridement of dead tissue coupled with prophylactic oral antibiotics to prevent secondary infection.
Hope it helps
Regards
Dr XXXXXXX Sultan

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj