How can you tell?

[ithinkalot2]

I've cut myself quite bad this time and have a few deep cuts on my arm, its really hurting and a lot of my arm looks really red, and feels a bit hot,how can I tell if its infected?
Is there anything I can use to clean it out?

[Babs]

I'm not entirely sure how to tell if its infected. If it is, you might know. Clean it out anyway.
My cuts usually felt like that. They weren't infected though. Although yours could be still.
Clean it out with water. Soap could sting and it might not disinfect properly. Something you can use to disinfect is hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. Both may sting, but in my experience peroxide doesn't sting all that bad at all but rubbing alcohol does. However, if that's all that's available to you then don't be afraid of it stinging and just do it. Pour some onto a cotton ball or a paper towel, but don't fully saturate it. Dab it on the cuts.
If you have other disinfectant for this sort of thing, I suggest you use it.

[Karkat]

Please get medical attention, just in case.

Usually, if there are red lines coming out of it, or if it gets a lot of pus (especially green, yellow, etc. colored) it is infected. But at this point, it's usually a BAD infection. At first? There really isn't much way to tell, infection develops over time.

As much as it will hurt, wash it out best you can with soap and water, put antibiotic ointment on it (like neosporin), and if you have gauze, wrap it.

BUT DO NOT WRAP IT DIRECTLY IN GAUZE. If you have no gauze pads, at least put paper towel or (clean) old rags in-between. (Paper towel is the least likely to disintegrate and make your wounds worse. If you have to use a paper product, this is the one to choose as napkins, toilet paper, and Kleenex are all very thin and disintegrate easily. They can stick to the wound and make it worse. You should never put gauze directly on an open wound.)

If you do dress the wound, make sure you change the dressings every 12 hours or less, and put new ointment on as well. Wash again if it's needed. (However, if possible, try to leave it alone for the most part- washing or messing with it TOO much will just irritate it, and make it harder for it to heal.)

[Gottaloveaginger14]

Watch for puss, oozing, an excess amount of redness around it and white streaks... It should also be getting better not worse

[numbness]

Use like the antispetic wipes if nor use salt water

[gothy]

How deep, how red, what you used and what you are exposing the wounds to will determine possibility of infection. But not necessarily accurately. Look for inflammation and pus. Disinfect it and cover it over completely. Go to walk in clinic or emergency ( accordingly). Infection can lead to disease if not looked after appropriately and professionally .

Dont mean to scare you.

[thatgothgirluknow]

How deep, how red, what you used and what you are exposing the wounds to will determine possibility of infection. But not necessarily accurately. Look for inflammation and pus. Disinfect it and cover it over completely. Go to walk in clinic or emergency ( accordingly). Infection can lead to disease if not looked after appropriately and professionally .

Dont mean to scare you. I agree with gothy try using rubbing alchohal to clean it and put a Neosporin on it if u have it bandage the best u can and keep it away from water if its pussy get medical care