It can be tempting to treat a whitlow yourself, but you should not lose sight of the fact that its progression towards complications can be done “at low noise” and that there are whitlow in “shirt buttons”, with a deep pocket that can go unnoticed. I therefore advise you to consult as soon as the symptoms are noticed and at the latest within the first 48 hours: a whitlow that does not improve in 48 hours is a therapeutic emergency. Do not forget to show the doctor your vaccination record to check that the tetanus vaccination is up to date.

Dr Ludovic Rousseau, dermatologist