HomeAnswersInternal Medicinecorn

Why is my thumb not healing 23 days after corn excision?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am suffering from mild pain and needle sensation in my excision site. My excision was done 23 days ago on my thumb for a corn excision.

My wound is not healing. Now, I take Metrogyl ointment, but there is no improvement. Can I use L-lysine ointment?

Please guide.

Answered by Dr. Ali Osman

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ali Osman is a dedicated obstetrics and gynecology specialist committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care for women at every stage of life. He has experience in managing a wide range of women’s health concerns, including pregnancy care, menstrual disorders, reproductive health, and gynecological conditions. Dr. Osman focuses on patient education, preventive care, and personalized treatment plans to ensure the best possible outcomes. Known for his supportive and professional approach, he strives to create a comfortable environment where patients feel heard, respected, and confident in their healthcare journey.      

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

I am deeply concerned about your worries. Based on your description, your excision site is not healing normally after three weeks. Mild pain and needle-like sensation at 23 days after a small thumb excision is longer than expected for a simple corn excision, which usually heals in 10 to 14 days if uncomplicated.

Delayed healing can be due to:

  1. Infection.
  2. Poor blood supply.
  3. Repeated trauma to the area.
  4. Local irritation from ointments.
  5. Underlying conditions like diabetes.

Metrogyl (Metronidazole) ointment is used for anaerobic infection, but if there is no improvement, infection may still be present, or there may be another cause.

L-lysine (Lysine Hydrochloride) is mainly used for cold sores (herpes) and for minor skin healing support. It is not a proven treatment for post-surgical wound healing or infection.

What you should do:

  1. See a doctor or surgeon for wound assessment.
  2. They may need to clean the wound, culture it, or prescribe appropriate antibiotics.
  3. Keep the area clean and avoid repeated ointment changes unless prescribed.
  4. Protect from trauma.

Do not rely on L-Lysine ointment for healing surgical wounds. If you develop increased pain, redness, swelling, pus, foul smell, and fever. Seek urgent medical care. From your description, this is a delayed healing of a post-surgical wound, possibly due to infection or local factors.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Ali Osman
Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At May 23, 2026
Reviewed At May 23, 2026

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ali Osman is a dedicated obstetrics and gynecology specialist committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care for women at every stage of life. He has experience in managing a wide range of women’s health concerns, including pregnancy care, menstrual disorders, reproductive health, and gynecological conditions. Dr. Osman focuses on patient education, preventive care, and personalized treatment plans to ensure the best possible outcomes. Known for his supportive and professional approach, he strives to create a comfortable environment where patients feel heard, respected, and confident in their healthcare journey.      

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ali Osman is a dedicated obstetrics and gynecology specialist committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care for women at every stage of life. He has experience in managing a wide range of women’s health concerns, including pregnancy care, menstrual disorders, reproductive health, and gynecological conditions. Dr. Osman focuses on patient education, preventive care, and personalized treatment plans to ensure the best possible outcomes. Known for his supportive and professional approach, he strives to create a comfortable environment where patients feel heard, respected, and confident in their healthcare journey.      

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Listen to related tracks in our music library
Comprehensive Second Opinion

Read answers about:

delayed wound healingcorn

Ask your health query to a doctor online

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.