Sometimes I get a hangnail (small piece of loose skin next to the nail) which is surprisingly painful. There's no redness or other sign of infection, yet if I put a little antibiotic ointment on it for a day, it is soon fine. (I can buy antibiotic ointment at the drugstore without a prescription.)

I forgot - first I trim the hangnail off with manicure scissors. Then I apply the ointment.

Sometimes I put on the ointment, then put a bandage over it to keep the ointment in place. It depends on what I will be doing that day.

This self-treatment is for a little problem which is obviously not serious.