Expert: George Maxwell - 7/27/2007

Question
My friend got muriatic acid on his finger and his nail feels like it is coming off.  The finger is swollen and very painful.  What can we do to make it feel better?

Answer
Sounds nasty.

Basic answer = get medical attention. If there's still a chance that there's some acid in the nail, rinse the finger with water for 10 minutes -. Don't try to neutralise the burn, and don't put on cream or ointment. Cover the burn with a sterile, non-fluffy dressing and get your friend to a hospital: if there's an infection or something similar, quick treatment will stop it getting worse. Chemical burns can't be safely treated at home except for the rinsing with water that I already mentioned.

Hope this helps, please pass on my best wishes to your friend.