If the area is weeping and it’s a milky colour, it means it's infected. If you are a doctor, you can administer the correct care, if not you must get the client to see their GP immediately.
How can we prevent this from happening?
- Educate your client to not pick the scab or pop a blister, leave it
- If the lesion is in a highly bacterial area like the underarms or groin, get the client to protect the lesion with a round plaster during the day when they are more likely to sweat and then wash the area when home and then remove the plaster let it dry during the night.
- Educate your client: If when the lesion comes off there is a dip in the skin, the scab has come off too quickly leaving an open wound that could become infected. Educate your client to know this and to take extra care, keeping it clean and being aware of infections.
- Do not be tempted to treat too many lesions at once. The clients have to be able to care for the areas efficiently and if there are too many, they will not be able to do this, and this may result in them getting infected.
- Antiseptic creams or lotions can be used if there is a risk or suspicion of Infection. We want the area to be as dry as possible to allow the necrosis of the skin efficiently, applying a cream will slow this down but if the area looks like it could be infected an antiseptic cream can help while waiting to see their GP.